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Copy Cat

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So i have a website which ranks well top first page. Just noticed another window cleaner in the area took paragraphs of mine, completely copied... an added one extra word to it an put on his website

I hate people that do that. Anyone else have any issues like this?

But hes on google ads, hopefully my clicks help him out /emoticons/tongue.png

 
I would message them, and threaten them with reporting it to google, as far as i know google can de-index the offending pages.

 
I wouldn't message them but i would report them

They will have no idea why they have no rankings

 
I worked in photography for several years and have a healthy pension from royalties from images I shot over the years. I have also had to deal with copyright infringement and breach of intellectual property rights in the past.

Firstly, if these are images you have taken from elsewhere on the web that are not yours (as in taken by you nor the copyright owned by you) then there is nothing you can do as you yourself are in breach of international copyright laws.

Next, As long as the images are yours, as in taken by you, then have a load of legal resources at your disposal.

Take some screen shots of his web page so you have the evidence.

A firmly but politely worded email to him pointing out that he is illegally using copyrighted images and text for commercial gain and that you require him to take them down immediately and not to use you legally protected property again.

A little side trick is to send an invoice for at least £200 per image of yours he is using due within 7 days should he wish to continue using your property.

I will wager that his site is fully reworked within 24 hours.

Should it not be you have a fully enforceable debt owed to you by him as he was made aware that they are your property and should he wish to use them he must pay, hence continuation equals agreement of terms.

Hope that helps.

 
Or just ignore it and take it as a compliment???

Where all in it for same reason to provide a nice life for are family

Prob doesn't mean any harm

It's similar to lending pictures of work to slmeone

 
I admit I've used in the past pics off net before had decent ones myself

Even used company method statements and tailored them

 
Or just ignore it and take it as a compliment???Where all in it for same reason to provide a nice life for are family

Prob doesn't mean any harm

It's similar to lending pictures of work to slmeone
It's actually false advertising. Luring customers in on the false insuations that the images are representative of your work.

Whilst trying to provide a better life for his family he is literally stealing from the person whos work he is using.

 
Maybe I'm wrong on this one

But I doubt there's many on this forum who over the years hasn't pinched a idea or copy and paste something off the net for there busimess

How many on here have looked at other windies website for ideas?

I wouldn't call it stealing as such maybe

Maybe he liked the way you worded it and that's it

I doubt he's going to steal any work through wording things the same

 
I don't think it says he's used photographs. It says paragraphs... As in text.
You are right however same rules apply.

Maybe I'm wrong on this oneBut I doubt there's many on this forum who over the years hasn't pinched a idea or copy and paste something off the net for there busimess

How many on here have looked at other windies website for ideas?

I wouldn't call it stealing as such maybe

Maybe he liked the way you worded it and that's it

I doubt he's going to steal any work through wording things the same
Not saying you are wrong Steve however facts are it's theft of intellectual property.

Say the customer looks at the thiefs site and it's poorley worded and laid out so they mive on to Roys site, well worded with good layout. So Roy gets the job.

By copying it it just means the customer would have gone with first one they clicked cause they like the blurb the guy stole from Roy. Simple.

My biggest issue with this sort of thing is brand identity. If we all use same images and text sooner or later we all become one and th same to the client.

 
how do you copyright words though and sentences?

Something I know nothing about really

Unless his webpage had the same layout pics and exact words surely it's hard to prove someone has copied words

 
how do you copyright words though and sentences?Something I know nothing about really

Unless his webpage had the same layout pics and exact words surely it's hard to prove someone has copied words
True. And there's only so many ways you can say I'm a window cleaner and I clean windows. Text is gonna be similar to every other windys if were all saying the same

 
Yeah I would just laugh it off

If he can't think of his own words to describe what he does then he's probably a right dumbass ! Feel sorry for him

Can't see how it will affect your work at all - I mean do people actually scan through window cleaners websites to see how they clean ??

Most work comes out on the job surely

 
If for example i had paid someone to make me a website and some herbert decides to basically copy and paste it i would have the right to be pi$$ed off

Same as if i have done the hard work and then taken a picture of it and it got copied

 
I was taking to a guy q few weeks ago, who said he really liked my website, gave mea card and asked I would look at his and let him know what I thought. He said it had cost a fortune, well the were probably all stock pics, but the wording was virtually the same as mine, prices all a couple of quid cheaper. Made me laugh. My site has a full copyright, it was done by a local girl £200 notes, she's been in design all her working life and just picks up the odd job when shes not doing the paper side of her husbands garage. She said if you want his site closing down just let me know. I'm not fussed I'm flat out and getting calls daily, turning most of them down now. Seriously thinking of putting a second van on the road.

It's not effecting me. I just see it as a complement.

 
Thanks guys, will just leave it be. If hes wanting to copy me then i must be doing something right!

 
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