competitor copying text from my website

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onurp

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Jun 1, 2017
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  • #1
    A competitor of mine is copying my content and slightly changing the wording, including the text and packages on my website. I was wondering is there anything I can do about it legally? I called the person and she denied it.

    I would be very happy to hear your comments and experiences.
     
    M

    Mitch3473

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    Aug 25, 2011
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  • #2
    Many years ago I was given a leaflet by a client of mine from a competitor and the layout, wording and pricing were almost identical to mine. ....I found it quite flattering.
    If anybody mentions it you can take the moral high ground.
    I looked on it as pure lazyness on their part and would therefore question their quality of work. They weren't around long.
     
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    Scott-Copywriter

    Scott-Copywriter

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    May 11, 2006
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  • #3
    onurp said:
    A competitor of mine is copying my content and slightly changing the wording, including the text and packages on my website. I was wondering is there anything I can do about it legally? I called the person and she denied it.

    I would be very happy to hear your comments and experiences.
    Click to expand...

    Contact their web host, inform them of the copyright infringement and request that the infringing content is removed.

    It's on their servers, so they can be liable as well.
     
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    HazelC

    HazelC

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    Sep 7, 2013
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    Cambridgeshire
  • #6
    Scott-Copywriter said:
    Contact their web host, inform them of the copyright infringement and request that the infringing content is removed.

    It's on their servers, so they can be liable as well.
    Click to expand...


    This is exactly what happened to a client of mine - I wrote content for them and 4 weeks later they saw it on another website. The best / most worrying part is that they even copied and pasted the company name in error - it was quickly removed and taken down with no harm to my client.
     
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    onurp

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    Jun 1, 2017
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  • #7
    For example,
    Mr D said:
    How slightly is slightly changing the wording?
    Click to expand...
    I said
    HATE MY PHOTOGRAPH TO BE TAKEN. WILL A SESSION WORK FOR ME?
    she copied:
    I hate having my photo taken! How will you get around this?

    Also
    WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
    You want to wear something which you love and feel comfortable in.
    WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
    Something that you know suits you and that you enjoy wearing.

    She copied my packages as well. The problem is she doesn't accept it.

     
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    onurp

    Free Member
    Jun 1, 2017
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  • #8
    Hi Hazel, If It was the same wording I could report it but saying things differently makes things more difficult to deal with. I just can't believe how people dare to do this. I work hard to put a content together and a business model some copies it.
     
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    R

    Root 66 Woodshop

  • #10
    Sorry to burst your bubble... but @Chris Ashdown he's right... your competitors sales pitch reads far better and is more legible... (I'm dyslexic I know what I'm talking about :D :D) The only argument I'd have with the following line is...

    Something that you know suits you and that you enjoy wearing.

    Not everyone can pull this off... some people think that they suit something, and they look absolutely awful... but you don't have the heart to tell them... With all due respect, if you're a photographer you shouldn't be putting yourself into such a crappy situation - you're going to ruin your credibility as a photographer... (waits for the PC Brigade now...) Imagine telling some chunky lass she looks lovely during a photoshoot... telling her to work it baby work it... all smiles, all flirtatious yet you're lying to her and you're feeling a bit queasy.
     
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    onurp

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    Jun 1, 2017
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  • #11
    I see your points guys but that's not what I'm trying to communicate. English is not my native language and I'm trying to communicate someone is copying your ideas and business model. But I just don't find this ethical.
     
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    Ashley_Price

    Ashley_Price

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    Business Listing
    Feb 9, 2008
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    www.lewestradersgroup.weebly.com
  • #12
    If you can prove that they have copied your site word for word (take screenshots of their site for proof), then get a solicitor to write a "cease and desist" letter. This probably won't cost a huge amount but should make them stop.

    I had this some years ago, with the call answering business. A UKBF member pointed out that a competitor had copied huge sections of my text and put it on their own website. I got my solicitor to write to them and the site was down within a few days.
     
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    Mr D

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    Feb 12, 2017
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    Stirling
  • #16
    There are only so many ways of answering the same questions - and have seen those questions of yours elsewhere. Her answer is easier to read but to be honest doesn't look like copying word for word.
    Now if you update your answers are you going to copy them word for word? Or rewrite it so its different but still providing good answer.
     
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    T

    TheConsulter

  • #18
    There are two options that you have in the situation you are in. The first one is that you ignore the competitor. In this case you save time and money instead of seeking legal advice and support. The other option is to involve a solicitor, who can write a cease and desist letter. However, you have to prove the copying and therefore it would be useful for you to take screenshots of their website.
     
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    Chris Truelove

    Chris Truelove

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    Jul 4, 2017
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    Filey
  • #19
    We had a competitor copy not only our text and products from our website but also used the name back2me.com (our website name was back2you.com) We spent a considerable amount on legal letters and came to a point where we had to decide to spend thousands more or just forget it and think of is a just another business hurdle to overcome and spent the money we would have wasted on legal fees on promoting our website, withing a couple of months we had overwhelmed him on google and I stopped worrying about it but it was so annoying at the time.
     
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    T

    TheConsulter

  • #20
    It's an interesting story that you have shared Chris. If I was in your position I would also decide to spend the thousands on promoting my business instead for on legal letters. Sometimes it's enough with a "cease and desist" letter from a lawyer, so the legal way should not be abandoned. But if it's not enough it can be costly, just as you have described.
     
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    DEFCON1

    DEFCON1

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    May 28, 2016
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  • #23
    snappyfish said:
    Once my competition copied my text, but doing so he left the link in back to my product.

    I chose not to mention anything ;)
    Click to expand...

    Haha! - Yep it happens..
    I had a similar thing many years ago when someone copied a page of one of my first (a very poor) website I once had which had almost zero traffic.
    They left my affiliate link intact & I was happily getting £XXX revenue a day from their effort.
    Couldn't quite believe my luck at the time!
    It lasted for several weeks until they must have eventually realised what they had done.
    I wasn't complaining either :)
     
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