Got a Case of the Copycatitis?

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[Tweet “Copycat on your tail… and after your Copy? Try these 17 tips to foil them.”]

Note: A few statements in this post may be a little tongue-in-cheek.

First, my story…

So, in just shy of 4 months of creating The Bossy Nurse website back in August 2014, it happened.

Yes… I had Copycatter…

A few days before Christmas, I woke up to an email revealing content on a website that offered “similar” services to my 30 Day Startup Challenge by a colleague I had met at a conference just a few months prior.

Christmas present come early?… Not exactly.

My first reaction was… disbelief, with my mouth wide open.

My second reaction? Well, the same. Disbelief, with my mouth wide open.

Yes, I was absolutely frozen. And I’m sure you know that feeling? When all you can do at the moment is just stand there and stare like a deer in headlights. And at the time, I didn’t quite know what I was going to do about it or how I was going to react.

Then came my third reaction… Oh yes… Anger!

I’m only human, right?

But, let’s back up a bit to my first and second reaction.

The disbelief… My disbelief was more from wondering why someone, with whom I’m in constant contact with on social media and via email lists, would copy word-for-word my material? Especially someone, in her own right, who had an impressive background. Someone who had seemingly been successful in business, had been a Healthcare Executive, and had been in the industry for over 30 years. Someone who had asked to work with me in the future. Someone with whom I’d inevitably cross paths with.

Then came my 4^th reaction, thinking the whole situation rather funny… “Really! I’m in business for just 4 months, and I’m the best you could find. Ha!”

But, in all honesty, it became a bit flattering for me and it boosted my ego a bit as well. Because in just 4 months, I had created content worth copying!

[Tweet “In just 4 months, I had created content worth copying.”]

So, how did I handle it?

Well, I have a few ways up my sleeve to help you figure out how to deal with the copycatters.

I spoke to a friend, emailed a few friends, got my thoughts together, did some “get proof” work, and then sat on it for a couple of days. After all, I got the email on Saturday, and no need to ruin the rest of my weekend, right?

Then on Monday, I took action.

I wrote the following email to Copycat (and, if you don’t know what to say to your Copycatter, feel free to copy, revise, and reuse… and yes, you do have my permission).

Names and services have been changed to protect the Copycatter (and their Copy)… Oh, how generous I’ve been!

Hi Copycat,

I hope you’re enjoying the holiday season!

It’s been brought to my attention that the content/copy that you’re placing on your website for your ‘Product’ is a copy of my material for the 30 Day Startup Challenge on my website, The Bossy Nurse.

After further inspection, I see that the majority of the information you list in your ‘ABC’ option (which would, by default, include your ‘BCD’ & ‘DEF’ options) has been taken from my archived and revamped copyrighted material, the 30 Day Startup Challenge. In some instances even, word-for-word.

If you have someone working on your website copy, I wanted to inform you first just in case you were unaware that they copied my material onto your website. Also, I have saved screenshots of the website copy of my archived and revamped 30 Day Starup Challenge as compared to your ‘Product’ if you’d like to see them side-by-side.

I kindly ask a few things by the end of the day, December 23, 2014 (email was sent on December 22nd):

1. Remove the ‘Product’ material from your website due to direct violation of US copyright laws under 17 U.S.C. 504.
2. Inform Your Audience that you cannot offer your ‘Product’ in its current form and that you will make changes (I’d appreciate it if you’d cc me as well).
3. Provide me with assurance that you have taken the necessary steps to remove my copyrighted material from your website. A simple email stating the material has been removed along with corrected links on your website (removal of material) would suffice.

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns and make yourself aware of the issue. I’m sure you’d agree that taking the above steps would be the honest and right thing to do.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

Best regards,

Marsha Battee

And…

Would you believe it? I actually received a bit of resistance. Copycat stated that her ‘web designer’ said all the material was original and assured her that no copying was done…

Now I know what you’re thinking…

A web designer… writing copy?

Oh, silly you! Let me explain…

By suggesting someone else had copied my material, I was simply giving Copycat the ‘out’ in the email. I didn’t want to appear to attack or blame her at all. And, I think that actually helped the situation.

So, eventually the next day, the material was taken down from Copycat’s website. Well, to be honest, it was taken down after a few back-and-forth emails with a few highlighted screenshots attached. (Oh… the work Copycat made me do to ‘prove’ that my material was stolen…. Aye Yai Yai!)

[Tweet “You may be wondering how you, too, can foil the Copycatter?”]

Below, I share 17 tips on how to deal with copycatters, help you keep your cool, and take back control of your content… before getting legal involved. 

#1 – Breathe… then…

#2 – Call a friend. Voice all of your concerns about what happened. Get angry, laugh, cry… just get rid of all of the emotions that could potentially make you proceed irrationally.

#3 – Immediately remove the Copycatter from everything if you feel so inclined. If you suspect an… ahem… admirer of your work, you can take them off your email lists, block them from your pages in social media, remove all ability for them to get your regularly provided content, etc.

#4 – Take screenshots of everything you’ve found on their website that is a copy of your material. (I believe if I didn’t have the screenshots, so diligently highlighted I might add, Copycat would have given me much more resistance… which she at first attempted.)

#5 – Take screenshots of some of their activity on your social media pages, blog posts, etc. like the page/post likes, and comments. If needed, it will show proof that Copycat actually knew and interacted with you just in case their savvy enough to delete evidence of such. Also, keep all emails between you and the Copycatter prior to the incident for those same reasons.

#6 – Email a simple, polite ‘cease & desist’ like my letter above. That may be all it takes. You can even find free copy-and-paste versions online, so you may not need a lawyer. Also, consider mailing it with signature confirmation.

#7 – Invest in an email tracking system like Yesware. It will allow you to see when your emails are opened, just in case the ‘oh-I-didn’t-get-your-email’ happens. And, it’s free for the first 100 emails each month. 

#8 – Make sure you place your copyright on everything you do and on your website. Place your logo on all digital work, pictures, posts, etc. Have a privacy policy and terms of service in place as well.

#9 – Archive your materials and password protect them once the event or offering has passed.

#10 – Allow the Copycat to push you create more, original work… like this blog post. *Wink*Wink*

#11 – Consider an IP statement in your Terms of Service like what I’ve created for my site below. Yes, feel free to copy it!

This Site and all of its original content are the sole property of Marsha Battee. No part of this website content, downloaded content or archived content can be copied or used at any time, in any format, form or variation without the expressed written permission from the owner, Marsha Battee. If programs and services were purchased on this site, it is to be used for personal educational purposes only, and not for the dissemination of any of such said materials. All content is protected by applicable copyright laws and other intellectual property rights laws.

#12 – Inform your community that you’re aware that there may be work out there that’s been copied from your work. And, if they believe they’ve purchased said items, offer them your original work (possibly for free as a generous offer).

#13 – Contact Copycat’s hosting company to have the material removed. Try using a service like the DMCA Notice Generator here to help you provide notification to their hosting company (DMCA stands for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act).

#14 – Use services like Copyscape or Grammarly to help you track down any of your material that may be used on other websites without your permission.

#15 – Make haste before they make a sell! Get all of your ducks in a row quickly. Organize your thoughts and take the above steps. You don’t want to miss out on potential revenue for your original work.

#16 – If after heeding to the above you’re still worried, check in with their content every so often or sign up on their email list. That way, you’ll have firsthand knowledge if your content is still being copied. (Update: Copycat has now produced another version of her ‘Product’… There are still some similarities, but hey, I’ve now decided to pick pick my battles!)

#17 – Trust your ideas! Don’t feel free to share and ask everyone’s opinions. Especially if you have proof showing your concept, product or service works.

So now the flip side. Want some tips to help prevent yourself from being too “inspired” by others as well?

If you believe you feel a little too ‘inspired’ from others, or your voice often doesn’t sound like your own, you may also have an inspirationitis that could quickly lead to, if untreated, copycatitis.

I know, I know… we often follow and emulate those who inspire, encourage and teach us. And sometimes, it’s hard not to. Our products and services can seem so similar to the next person that sometimes it can even be hard to tell the inspired work from the original work.

No worries!

Here are 3 simple ways to make sure you’re using your own voice:

#1 – Make sure you’re not infringing on others first. Unfollow some of your mentors to avoid the ‘inspiration’ trap. (I learned this from a mentor of mine just recently… I still follow her by the way… she’s my mentor after all.)

#2 – Take down anything on your website that may appear highly inspirational of others.

#3 – Give credit where credit is due. Always site where your work is coming from if it’s been inspired by the work of others. And, even if you can’t remember who the original creator of the work just happens to be, just saying that you got this information from someone else shows a lot of your integrity and shows that you’re not trying to pass someone else’s work off as your own.

And that’s it.

So in the end, take comfort in knowing that all of the ideas someone may have copied from your website they won’t be able to reproduce, especially when they eventually have to deliver on what you’re offering. They’ll have no idea how to do it.

And then remember… A copycat will always have to catch up!

Have you had someone copy your work? What actions did you take to protect your original material? Or, do you feel a little too inspired by the work of others? What tips do you use to stay true to your voice? Please comment below.

Photo Credit: “Don’t Copy Me” by Samm Modica is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Photo Credit: “Sentiero n.17 pista ciclabile” by Riccardo is licensed under CC BY 2.0

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