Business Idea copied.....

Kent Brockman

Some of my competitors started adding extra details to their pictures, similar to the ones included in my personalised pictures, since my product started getting noticed (Started in august 2010).
Flattering I suppose but annoying at the same time.

In the past few days someone who became a fan of my FB page months ago is now advertising an almost identical product, Same colour frame, mounted, exact same details included even down to the personalised message!
(Theirs is slightly smaller and costs more to buy and post).

I appreciate that there is a lot of similar ideas and products on the market but is there any way to protect my exact product? (My originals are obviously copyrighted).

Its not only annoying but very damaging to a small business:mad::(

whippet

is there anyting that could be possibly patented?

if not, your only option is to be better than your competition at what you do ... be it on quality, price or supply.

That is the nature of business .... when you are first to market with an idea you have to make hay while the sun shines and never stop innovating as eventually competition will catch up ......

dudara

This is not a Consumer Issue - moved to Business Management

dudara

Kinetic^

Kent Brockman wrote: »

Some of my competitors started adding extra details to their pictures, similar to the ones included in my personalised pictures, since my product started getting noticed (Started in august 2010).
Flattering I suppose but annoying at the same time.

In the past few days someone who became a fan of my FB page months ago is now advertising an almost identical product, Same colour frame, mounted, exact same details included even down to the personalised message!
(Theirs is slightly smaller and costs more to buy and post).

I appreciate that there is a lot of similar ideas and products on the market but is there any way to protect my exact product? (My originals are obviously copyrighted).

Its not only annoying but very damaging to a small business:mad::(

Speak with an intellectual property specialist. If you need details of one let me know.

Get Cracking

That has to be annoying.
What is it you sell?

mneylon

If they have copied you verbatim then you might be able to do something about it, but if it's more a case of them being "influenced" or "inspired" by what you are doing it's going to be very hard, if not impossible.

You'd be better off focussing your energies on outselling and outmarketing them

stcstc

who owns the graphics

are they stock or your own custom designs?

are they using your designs?

fl4pj4ck

an idea cannot be patented and can be copied, your only hope is to somehow manage to make your offer better in some way

neris

I heard a saying once that to get a good product just copy someone elses idea and make it better

skregs

Sooo.... what you're saying is that there's money in your ideas and you have no intellectual property rights?

Is it worth setting up a business doing what you do? What could I reasonably expect to make?

Deepwell

If you have copyright it might be worth engaging a solictor to send them a letter threatening legal action for infringement to see if that scares them off. Alternatively if you are a registered business you could probably send them an 'official letter' similiarly threatening legal action if they do not desist.

If the letter does not work its probably not going to be worth going down the legal route unless the loss can be proven and is substantial.

Kent Brockman

Thanks for all the input