What to say to people who intend to steal your ideas?

Latest Articles

What to say to people who intend to steal your ideas?
Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Next

Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

Author

Message

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 8:32 am Post subject: What to say to people who intend to steal your ideas?

I've just done 2 days at woolfest where the amount of people saying 'Oh that's a great idea, I'm going to pinch that' really started to get on my threepennies by day 2. One woman even got her camera out and said 'I need to take a pictrure so I can remember how to do it when I get home'

I understand that people are going to copy stuff they see (and think they can do themselves) but to be so blatant about it is just plain bleddy rude. I'd like to point out to them that this is actually my livelihood, I'm not some free imformation point for the creatively deficient. What would you say?

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 8:36 am Post subject:
White lie coming on: Tell them your designs are subject to copyright and they would need to seek permission in writing to reproduce them. Not that you usually mind of course but you had an incident several years ago when you had to take someone to court over breach of copyright - when and if they contact you - just say no. Last edited by Went on Mon Jul 02, 07 8:53 am; edited 1 time in total

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 8:37 am Post subject:
Are we talking people who want to make things for themselves, or people who are making to sell? Making for themselves, I think there's not a lot you can do (you could try and sell them kits!) and I'm quite gulty of that, although I am more discreet about it. To sell, perhaps you can protect your ideas more firmly, though.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 8:40 am Post subject:
'Oh, really? What a good idea! I'd like to do that, how do you copyright an article?'

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 8:53 am Post subject:
I hope it's just people wanting to make it for themselves. I know there's nothing I can do to stop them but to tell you they're going to do it gets a bit much after 2 days of it

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:14 am Post subject:
Maybe woolfest isn't the best outlet for your products - you need a whole load of people who are soooo creatively deficient, they beleive that they can't do it. Rather than that they can with a bit of practice. I'm guessing woolfest attracts crafty kinds who think they can, and don't mind putting the time in. Not sure how you you identify a better market though (I'm truly hopeless at marketing)

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:18 am Post subject:

Yep - woolfest/wonderwool is definitely the wrong market for me. I knew that before I went but I didn't expect people to be so lacking in good manners that they'll tell you they're going to pinch your work. And actually it's insulting that they think they can reproduce my work so easily. It's not just some stuf that's slung together. Judging by some of the stuff people were wearing I doubt they're as creative as they think they are.

I've got some stuff coming up that definitely is the right market but I applied for ww and wf before I decided that I was goiong to focus on the felt.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:21 am Post subject:

Well, then you have nothing to worry about. Clearly, it's still going to be annoying, but view it as flattery. Perhaps the other thing you could consider is selling patterns. If they're going to try anyway, you could spin a profit from it?

1. The pattern
2. The pattern plus the materials sold as a kit
3. The finished item.

3 products, 3 markets, barely any extra work, and it addresses your problems and theirs. Win win?

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:28 am Post subject:

Nick Howe wrote:

Clearly, it's still going to be annoying,

Yes, it is. 2 days of it. People should have more dignity. Can't say the idea of selling kits to people who can't come up with their own ideas apeals to me really.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:32 am Post subject:
Why not? It'd pay some bills, reduce your stress, help them out? Is this creative snobbery? (and I mean that nicely) Last edited by Nick on Mon Jul 02, 07 9:33 am; edited 1 time in total

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:32 am Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

And actually it's insulting that they think they can reproduce my work so easily

They probably can't - it's surprising how easy things look, and then turn out to be a lot harder than you thought when you try. Perhaps you should smile sweetly, give them a card and then to contact you if they need any help. Then they'll know where to come to buy the real thing, when they've cocked it up!

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:35 am Post subject:

Nick Howe wrote:

Why not? It'd pay some bills, reduce your stress, help them out? Is this creative snobbery?

(and I mean that nicely)

It probably is creative snobbery - can't think of anything worse than sitting making up kits. I'd rather work behind a till.

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:36 am Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

Stacey wrote:

And actually it's insulting that they think they can reproduce my work so easily

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:37 am Post subject:

Nick Howe wrote:

Why not? It'd pay some bills, reduce your stress, help them out? Is this creative snobbery?

(and I mean that nicely)

That's a good point - if you flog them a kit, and they have a go and discover its not so easy as they thought, then you'll have sold a product, and they'll have learnt a lesson, and know where to come back to. Then you can be artistically smug, and as a result you might sell more of your finished work, as repeat business.

Jb

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 07 9:37 am Post subject:

Nick Howe wrote:

'Oh, really? What a good idea! I'd like to do that, how do you copyright an article?'

IIRC you automatically have copyright on any article you write. Statements at the bottom of articles stating that something is copyrighted are strictly unnecessary.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice	All times are GMT Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Next
Page 1 of 5

View Latest Posts