Mediacorp disqualifies stolen designs from competition

Three illustrations submitted to a Mediacorp design competition have been removed from the media company's website and disqualified after they were found to have been stolen.

- Clement Yong

Launched in December 2024, the Design Pompipi competition sought original graphic designs from the public that illustrate people's love for Singapore and what the Republic's 60th birthday in 2025 means to them.

Winners receive a cash prize of $2,000 and Caltex vouchers worth $100. The winning designs will be featured on merchandise including T-shirts, tote bags and canned drinks.

But Singapore independent illustrator Lee Xin Li and lifestyle store Supermama found their creations uploaded to Mediacorp's website without their knowledge, submitted by a participant who went by the name of Sabiyathul.

Both did not take action, though Lee took to Facebook to voice his complaint. Mediacorp said a member of the public e-mailed the company on Jan 5 to alert it to the fraud.