Comments on: In Business, Imitation is Far From Flattery http://allfreelancewriting.com/2010/01/06/freelancing/marketing-pr/in-business-imitation-is-far-from-flattery/ Your Freelance Writing Resource Thu, 24 May 2012 17:22:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jennifer Mattern http://allfreelancewriting.com/2010/01/06/freelancing/marketing-pr/in-business-imitation-is-far-from-flattery/comment-page-1/#comment-13827 Jennifer Mattern Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:07:51 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3815#comment-13827 I'd say it's a combination of laziness, lack of confidence, and incompetence. Anyone willing to put the work in, who is confident in their abilities, and who is actually qualified to do the work they want to do doesn't need to imitate. I’d say it’s a combination of laziness, lack of confidence, and incompetence. Anyone willing to put the work in, who is confident in their abilities, and who is actually qualified to do the work they want to do doesn’t need to imitate.

]]> By: Diana http://allfreelancewriting.com/2010/01/06/freelancing/marketing-pr/in-business-imitation-is-far-from-flattery/comment-page-1/#comment-13823 Diana Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:37:33 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3815#comment-13823 In any business (and especially those that involve creativity), being able to stand out from and above the crowd is key. Guess I wonder then why someone would go down the road of imitation. A quick buck maybe, as you mentioned? Easy and thought-free work? Possibly. But in then end they won't be standing on their own merit. Competition? Maybe in the short term. In any business (and especially those that involve creativity), being able to stand out from and above the crowd is key. Guess I wonder then why someone would go down the road of imitation. A quick buck maybe, as you mentioned? Easy and thought-free work? Possibly. But in then end they won’t be standing on their own merit. Competition? Maybe in the short term.

]]> By: Jennifer Mattern http://allfreelancewriting.com/2010/01/06/freelancing/marketing-pr/in-business-imitation-is-far-from-flattery/comment-page-1/#comment-13808 Jennifer Mattern Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:33:52 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3815#comment-13808 Trademark infringement depends a lot on the level of confusion it causes. If they were to use let's say http://allfreelanceblogging.com, that alone wouldn't technically be trademark infringement. That could change if they model their site after this one in some way, making visitors think they're seeing AFW instead of a different site. It all comes down to the confusion. That said, if one of the writers blogging for AFW registered and used that domain, they'd no longer be welcome to blog here. That's a case of unprofessionalism at its finest. I ghostwrite personal finance pieces daily for an Australian company. I'd never register a domain similar to theirs, setup a blog, and write similar content to what they have. If you're not already doing something, you shouldn't start doing it to mimick a client, ever. If I were asked to write for another writing blog, I certainly wouldn't <em>stop</em> writing on my own, but then the client knows what you're involved with up front. So bringing the client issue into it definitely would complicate it more. In the past, people who have stolen my designs, content, logos, and setup almost identical site names have not been affiliated with me in any way. They've just been spammers and scammers -- thieves looking for a quick buck. Trademark infringement depends a lot on the level of confusion it causes. If they were to use let’s say http://allfreelanceblogging.com, that alone wouldn’t technically be trademark infringement. That could change if they model their site after this one in some way, making visitors think they’re seeing AFW instead of a different site. It all comes down to the confusion.

That said, if one of the writers blogging for AFW registered and used that domain, they’d no longer be welcome to blog here. That’s a case of unprofessionalism at its finest. I ghostwrite personal finance pieces daily for an Australian company. I’d never register a domain similar to theirs, setup a blog, and write similar content to what they have. If you’re not already doing something, you shouldn’t start doing it to mimick a client, ever. If I were asked to write for another writing blog, I certainly wouldn’t stop writing on my own, but then the client knows what you’re involved with up front. So bringing the client issue into it definitely would complicate it more.

In the past, people who have stolen my designs, content, logos, and setup almost identical site names have not been affiliated with me in any way. They’ve just been spammers and scammers — thieves looking for a quick buck.

]]> By: LaToya Irby http://allfreelancewriting.com/2010/01/06/freelancing/marketing-pr/in-business-imitation-is-far-from-flattery/comment-page-1/#comment-13804 LaToya Irby Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:41:10 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3815#comment-13804 I think this is definitely an interesting topic. I was considering starting up a niche site and the domain that came to mind was similar to a client's domain (all the really good domains in this niche are already taken). I haven't signed any non-compete agreements, but I decided against the domain because it's just bad business. I didn't consider trademark infringement because the domain includes common words that appear in millions of other domains. Trademark infringement is so confusing to me. Is anyone who registers a www.allfreelancexxx.com domain infringing on your trademark? What if their website brand, design, and focus are completely different? I think this is definitely an interesting topic. I was considering starting up a niche site and the domain that came to mind was similar to a client’s domain (all the really good domains in this niche are already taken). I haven’t signed any non-compete agreements, but I decided against the domain because it’s just bad business. I didn’t consider trademark infringement because the domain includes common words that appear in millions of other domains.

Trademark infringement is so confusing to me. Is anyone who registers a http://www.allfreelancexxx.com domain infringing on your trademark? What if their website brand, design, and focus are completely different?

]]> By: Jennifer Mattern http://allfreelancewriting.com/2010/01/06/freelancing/marketing-pr/in-business-imitation-is-far-from-flattery/comment-page-1/#comment-13799 Jennifer Mattern Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:29:48 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3815#comment-13799 I checked it when you first mentioned it and it was available. Shortly after though, someone registered it. Assuming from your comment that it wasn't you, maybe someone else snatched it after seeing your tweet. I hadn't noticed the All Freelance Business one, but if I had you definitely would have heard from me, and I would have been more than a little cranky. :P I doubt whoever registered the blogging one would have the gall to do anything confusing enough or hijacking my content. And if they do, well, I've dealt with assholes like that before and forced their sites down, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. So I'm not too worried. :) I checked it when you first mentioned it and it was available. Shortly after though, someone registered it. Assuming from your comment that it wasn’t you, maybe someone else snatched it after seeing your tweet. I hadn’t noticed the All Freelance Business one, but if I had you definitely would have heard from me, and I would have been more than a little cranky. :P I doubt whoever registered the blogging one would have the gall to do anything confusing enough or hijacking my content. And if they do, well, I’ve dealt with assholes like that before and forced their sites down, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. So I’m not too worried. :)

]]> By: Jessie Fitzgerald http://allfreelancewriting.com/2010/01/06/freelancing/marketing-pr/in-business-imitation-is-far-from-flattery/comment-page-1/#comment-13794 Jessie Fitzgerald Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:07:49 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3815#comment-13794 Jenn, I totally see what you're saying. I started up a small Web site and named it All Freelance Business a couple months ago...then promptly abandoned it the instant I realized that I'd jacked your brand! Totally unintentional and it got me thinking about this. If you do get AllFreelanceBlogging.com, your make money blogging series would be great that way. But all's well. That is bullshit for someone to take your branding like that. Jenn, I totally see what you’re saying. I started up a small Web site and named it All Freelance Business a couple months ago…then promptly abandoned it the instant I realized that I’d jacked your brand! Totally unintentional and it got me thinking about this. If you do get AllFreelanceBlogging.com, your make money blogging series would be great that way. But all’s well. That is bullshit for someone to take your branding like that.

]]>