Copycats

[DimPrawn]

Serious question here.

Say for example I had a plan B which consists of a website, e-commerce and marketing materials. This said website has a certain layout and style and navigation and colour scheme etc. Look and feel, branding if you like.

A competitor has just started up that has used a CMS tool to scrape the layout and created effectively a clone site. It is 90% identical and even has the same headers and strap lines! Pure and simple copy of most of the HTML and CSS!!!

Can anything be done? The copy-cat company is not UK based.

Is it just tuff tulip?

Cheers,

DP

 

[Pondlife]

There was an issue recently where YELL sucessfully managed to close down another website that was offering similar services and their website was the same 'look and feel' as the yell one. The argument was that they were trying to mislead the visitor into thinking the two companies were associated.

This was a UK based company though - Not sure the implications of international.

 

[ladymuck]

I suppose technically it is your creative property and so subject to the usual copyright laws. However, I reckon it'll be a rather costly legal battle to get any kind of compensation and force them to take the site down.

 

[DimPrawn]

This is waht I thought. Theoretically with a big enough legal budget I could make them think twice, but in practice there is no easy way to stop anyone copying another successful site and business model.

Tossers.

Looks like Plan B needs a Plan C.

 

[hyperD]

Put simply - can you afford the legal costs and does it affect your business turnover? If not, don't waste money doing this simply for pride.

Unless you're as rich as me.

 

[AtW]

but in practice there is no easy way to stop anyone copying another successful site and business model.

Yes, that's why its best to have something that is very hard to copy... like SKA

 

[DimPrawn]

It's bloody annoying.

I've sent them a message about it.

 

[DimPrawn]

Yes, that's why its best to have something that is very hard to copy... like SKA

I copied your SKA weeks ago. It's on eBay now forra fiver.

 

[MrsGoof]

DOS attack?

 

[Numptycorner]

Hopefully he will be on here soon bragging about how much money he has made!?