Cheeky, cheeky fucker...

[OkMaybeNot]

I have a small business selling handmade items. It is very, very niche... It's not anything like crochet or

@UnknownStuntman

Am I the only one who is singing the thread title to the tune of Chucklevision?

PMSL!

@OkMaybeNot

OP, first of all, contact her directly, and ask her to take everything down that she has copied from you. If she ignores you and/or refuses, then I would take heed of the post by @mummymeister at the top of this page...

I think that you need to take this seriously and get a solicitors letter sent for passing off. It will affect your business especially if she is undercutting you in terms of price. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who will just look at the two items, not realise the difference and go for the cheapest. you need to protect, formally, what is yours. She may just be doing it for Christmas pin money but then if she makes enough it might not just stop and then the damage to your business would be greater and long term.

I am involved with advice to small business start ups and the common mistake that one person businesses make is that they don't see their business as "real" . You have to adopt a "big business" mentality over things like this. Obviously, she wont be happy that you have sent her a solicitors letter but this is business and not against her as a person. The example about cola and how these big companies react is spot on. You need to act now before there is any reputational damage to yourself. good luck.

The woman in question is a proper cheeky cow, and as some people have said, it's not that unusual sadly. Some people are scavengers and parasites, and they will steal ideas and intellectual property and present them as their own at the drop of a hat.

This is way more trivial, but I have a twitter account, (with about 5000 followers,) and although much of my tweeting is just general opinions and comments, I occasionally post some funny, or clever comments (trumpet blowing moment sorry!) And other twitter users (who I follow and follow me back,) have cut and pasted them, and reposted them, and presented them as their own.

I have tweeted 'cheeky twat! that was MY wording!' Resulting in them either ignoring me or blocking me!

Anyone who is following us both, can and will see that I posted it first, but anyone NOT following me, will think that it was their wording.

So I have, on occasions, 'named and shamed' them, and @ replied them in, so anyone following them can see the comment wasn't theirs! The followers don't care, but I do, as it makes me angry that someone stole my intellectual property - word for word!

So if she doesn't take it all down when you ask, then along with taking some legal action (as some posters have suggested,) I would also be naming and shaming the cheeky cow. Let everyone know what she has done. Don't hold back!

I am also dying to know what it is you do, that no-one else does for 300 miles!!!

Why on earth would you 'like' her post? Surely that's going to make her worse

People like her are thick skinned so she won't realise you are having a dig at her!

Time to craft yourself a new advert. Use words like 'the original' and if you want to really shove it to her 'often copied never equalled'

It is so frustrating when people give advice, which was asked for, and OPs do nothing about it. I am not talking about here only, but on many other threads, the OP will ask for advice and then do absolutely nothing.

then I would take heed of the post by @mummymeister at the top of this page...

Or the one where I said the same thing three hours earlier.

How do you know OP has done nothing about the advice given, @SalemBlackCat4? It's barely a day since she first posted.

Drop her like a burning rock. She is not a good friend. Ask your mutual friend to help you make a banner for your business. Restrict access to your Facebook page. Stay one step ahead of her. Try and anticipate her next step. Block her. Get your friend to watch her Facebook page for you.
Just out of curiosity what do you sell? Can I see some pictures of the products or not?

You may wish to consider registering your designs/ process with Acid (anti copying in design) they will help you with letters and you can use the logo to put o your website /facebook page to discourage those who cant be bothered to be original.

www.acid.uk.com/ Good Luck.

Can you link your selling page to here on MN? We could see it and people might buy stuff. It could up your sales in spite of the CCF.

You liked her post - wow!

Can't believe you haven't been in touch to express your disgust at her behaviour.

I must admit, 'liking' her post is basically telling her that you don't mind.

I'm a bit confused why you did that tbh. Totally gives the wrong message.

Put wording on yours something like ‘ x years experience/ in business/ crafting these- or an even stronger, and less cf-ish than what the other person has done- it has come to my attention that other versions are being offered, please be aware that I have x years experience in both crafting these and maintaining an excellent level of customer service/ delivery of product. I offer a guarantee etc

Artwork is automatically copyrighted - you don't have to 'do' anything (like apply, or register it)

You've understandably been quite vague about what it is, but if it could be described as artwork, and she's definitely copying your work, then you would def have a case.

Oh, just seen someone else has posted the same - sorry!

Invitations?

Wombat - wise words

As many have said you NEED to send a ‘cease & desist’ letter. Try the online one first, the go to a solicitor if she doesn’t. She can do all the calligraphy she likes, in a similar style if she wants, butvshe cabnot copy your advertising etc.

...and ‘unlike’ her post (if you can, I don’t do FB). I’m sure your intention was so she knows you know, but it comes across as you approving or supporting!

It happens a lot sadly. It costs too much to add a copyright when your just a one man band. I would be pretty pissed off too, block her so she can’t see anymore of your stuff. I wouldn’t worry about her steeling your customers because it sounds as though her version is not as good, people are always going to opt for quality when buying a home made one off gift.

Sad but unavoidable that people always copy a good idea and seldom improve on it. It's happened to me more times than I can count, whether I was making dolls' clothes, occasion hats, ceramics or, as now, childrenswear.
(Obviously, designing, making and selling is my living.) It's infuriating. Keep your standards up, don't try to fight a price war and keep your product on the move. She can't copy it until she's seen it and she can't see it until you've done it, so she will always be two or three steps behind you. Shout out on your page that you're the best, often imitated, etc. Block her by all means and as has been said, find a way to keep an eye on her page. The more people copy, the less they can create. Show closeups of the intricate detail of your skill, if you want, too close for her to just lift. Good luck.

Difficult to know without knowing exactly what it is she's supposed to have ripped off.

I've been accused of "theft", copying and generally badmouthed and insulted to all and sundry by a local woman because I use sea glass in my jewellery. Apparently that's HER thing. Apparently I've been "stealing her ideas". Despite the fact that nothing I make looks even remotely like her stuff (she wraps individual bits of glass in wire and puts them on ribbon - that's it. I do bracelets with woven wirework and spiral designs and various rather more elaborate designs), and the fact that I've been making jewellery with sea glass since 1998. Bonkers.

If your work is so specific and so unusual that the only explanation is that she has directly ripped you off - I'd be pissed off, but ignore. She's not doing it very well, is she, so she's unlikely to impact your business much.

''It costs too much to add a copyright''

Copyright is free, its yours automatically at the point of creation. You dont have to register it anywhere. You can add the copyright symbol if you publish, just to alert people that you own the rights.

If she's not a business threat, I wouldn't worry about legal action.

But I'd have to comment on something saying "Wow, what a co-incidence that's just like mine" or something to that effect to let her know that you're on to her.

I’d have to see it to judge whether it is copying or just pictures of the same type of product with wording about that product.
I know you said it’s not crochet but using blankets as an example someone else could reasonably have a pic collage of blankets plus some writing about blankets without having copied you.
I would also be wary of liking any more of her posts if she is unskilled as you say. Potential customers may take it as a recommendation and it could reflect badly on you or they could use her if she’s cheaper. They won’t know your ‘likes’ are passive aggressive.

no one on here can advise the OP. Neither on the merits nor strategy.
But for several reasons, liking the Facebook post wasn't a good move - suggest unliking it straight away.

A friend of mine runs a photography business and a woman did the same thing to her. Literally copied her set ups (she does cake smashes/themed portraits etc) - I mean it was BLATANT copying, because everytime my friend advertised a new photo shoot she was doing, this woman would pop up shortly after doing the exact same thing and REALLY badly, it was pretty clear she wasn’t a pro photographer (it was laughable actually it was so piss poor).

My friend had a right nightmare with her. She blocked her from everything she possibly could, but she still does it now although less so as she doesn’t have as much access. Fortunately my friends business has been going a lot longer and she has loyal clients who recommend regularly so it’s not impacted her too badly I don’t think.

As I said to my friend, look at it this way. If her work is of a poorer standard then people aren’t likely to go back to her in future.