#general-chat
Thread
Afternoon everyone, anyone dealt with having a competitor constantly copying? We have a competitor that makes the same product ( pretty niche ) and for the last year they've been copying more and more things. It's really distracting and getting me down even though I'm trying to think of it as - if they're copying they're always one step behind. But it's hard when you spend so much time, effort and thought into coming up with something someone else is just gonna copy. Even now I feel like I'm wasting time and focus looking into what we can do about it.
They started replicating our sales angles to start with, we'd come up with different solutions and aims with taglines etc that they never had before. Rewording all our copy into their own versions. Then they started replicating all our 5 product photo infographics - with the same features and points into their own branding but a much worse design. They started recreating our bespoke personalised designs we print on our product but changing bits slightly like just different fonts! Enough to try and argue that they're different I guess? I re designed our website before peak selling season last year and it's great - Now I looked at theirs yesterday and they have basically changed everything to how we have ours - layout, navigation, sales points on homepage and product page. But worse design and slightly changed wording (also without any dev work for the custom things). But some of our taglines were very unique and they've just copied them in the most obvious way. Does anyone think it's worth pursuing DMCA and if we would even have a leg to stand on if it's not fully identical? I think we could DMCA at least two of the product designs but I'm not sure if them using a different font would count as it being different enough.
I'd maybe ask on /r/legaladvice or something, and not a lawyer, but i believe most of the stuff you mentioned wouldn't be enough to win. For example if they copy your style/angles in product photos, but it's their product, that's not enough (could be different if they're using your exact product photos though.) It's especially hard or even impossible if, for example, you're in the US and they're not.
Same thing happens to us.
while it's flattering to have a competitor copy you, a cease and desist seems to be in order, it's definitely possible
i have an attorney friend who can assist with these sorts of matters - he's diligent in Copyright/Trademark cases, but i'm sure he'll be able to pull something out of this.
I wouldn’t worry about competitors. Focus on your customers. Clearly your competitors aren’t. Focusing on competitors will hold you back from growing the business.
They can copy you all they want, but they don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing. And by the time they copy, they get to where you were, not where you are.
This is worth a read.
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Not sure if the laws are the same in the USA as it is here in Australia
Passing off is the angle.
I know the feeling @Danny K. It was pretty annoying because it wasn’t just one, it started being all my competitors. But then I realized that I must be doing something right if they’re all copying. We’ve become the leaders in our space by being authentic and that’s what resonates the most with the community I’ve built. I also call them out indirectly every now and then to let them know that I know what they’re doing. But stay focused on building your community and solving the problem. Your community will be with you all the way if you stay focused.
Thanks for the replies - I hate even having to waste time thinking about it and it's all I've been thinking about for days now. I'm based in the UK