Tsk, tsk, tsk…. Paul. What were you thinking?
What’s Going On?
Some of you will remember that I previously mentioned someone had ripped off the concept behind one of the sites I regularly post about on here. New design and graphics, but all the content that had taken me so long to write had been re-hashed and the site structure was strangely familiar. This lady was not amused. As soon as I made mention of it…. the site magically vanished from Adwords.
“Oh well.” I thought. “Perhaps he just got carried away after reading about in on my blog.”
Because you do read my blog, don’t you Paul?
Now ladies and gents. Once you’d put down to an over-ardent newbie getting carried away. But how might one feel if it happened twice? How would you feel if the same person did it twice?
We’d be Bloody Furious Kirsty…
Yes gang, you would, wouldn’t you? If you’d spent 3 months of blood sweat and tears creating a complex site, only for your content to be rehashed (not very imaginatively I might add), your structure stolen and your Adwords format virtually duplicated.
So Who Was It Kirsts? And What’s His Postal Address?
Well gang, despite having all that information… I’m not going to post it here. I’d rather give our enthusiastic young chap the opportunity to do the right thing. I don’t even like having to make this post, but unfortunately Paul hasn’t hooked up his e-mail address yet… so my (amazingly restrained) message to him earlier this morning bounced back.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again. I give all the information on this blog freely. I am open about what I’m doing in order to help others. Why? Because I believe in helping others to achieve the affiliate dream. I can’t be surprised this has resulted in someone stealing from me, but I hoped it wouldn’t.
The only solution I can come up with is to stop sharing this sort of information. To have my ideas stolen like that is deeply painful and upsetting. I don’t know if I want to be made to feel like this again. Poor old Duncan is now going to have to spend the evening creeping around and trying to sneak relaxing alcoholic beverages into my vicinity.
So Come On Paul… Do Everyone Else Who Benefits From My Open Approach A Favour - Do The Right Thing Before You Ruin This Resource For Everyone
April 10th, 2008 at 9:01 am
I feel for you- is frustrating to say the least when your hard work gets blatently ripped off.
I’ll say to you what I say to the Duckman- imitation is the highest form of flattery and even though peeps may try and emulate what you do, they will always be a cheap imitation as they lack the creative spark to come up with anything original off their own backs.
Hope that makes sense- still on the first coffee of the morning!
Jude
April 10th, 2008 at 9:03 am
your nicer than me Kirsty!
April 10th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Kirsty you need to add a “back me” button to the bottom of your posts, so this can rise up the A4u blog posts list. I had to go back to a4u to back it, sorry to hear about this. Paul sort it out!
April 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Ideas get stolen all the time. Nothing exists in a vacuum. Get over it. (That’s not to say the people who do it deserve any respect).
Your creative work is yours. If it’s been ripped off, and the perpetrator won’t be reasonable, show your lawyers.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:50 am
This is a real problem - and the main reason I hold back time after time from sharing information that I’d love to share. It’s a real shame too because you are sharing quality information.
Imitation isn’t just flattery on the net - it an cost you big time.
Years ago I detailed how to launch a new site, including url, etc., only for someone to “copy” it rather than learn from it. This actually ruined the site for me because I amazingly lost all my Google rankings to this clown - despite having the original content on my site! I had to totally rebuild, losing months of rankings and earnings.
Unfortunately, there will always be people who will steal your content rather than learn from it. There are plenty of Pauls in this world.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Oh..how shitty…
Hope he gets his retribution soon..
April 10th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Agreed with all the comments above; Also isn’t this a problem that Kieron has had a lot of issues with in the past?
On the brighter side maybe it’s a good way to tell how successful you are preceived to be by the affiliate community by the number of people copying your site?
April 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
What did you expect, though? really? This is business. People are going to do what they think works to succeed, so if you show an example of something that is working, people are going to copy it. It’s no different online than offiline. Think about how Coke must have felt when Pepsi came out–it’s basically the same product. Same for beers, credit cards, cars, etc. Good design and ideas are copied all the time–hell you probably took things you saw on other sites and have incorporated them into yours.
Sorry for the rant. I agree that maybe people SHOULDN’T steal ideas, but that’s just not being realistic. Why would you ever detail what is working and give it away for free, unless you want to sabotage your own business? Would Coke ever give away its secret recipe? No, and neither should any good businessman/woman.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Bummer but I agree with Jude (although I’m not condoning it).
When you come across someone who so obviously excels at what they do, someone with the brilliantly creative flair of your goodself (please forgive the brown nose) it is very easy to try and emulate them. However I think the original always makes the copy look second rate…at least I think it does…doesn’t it?
April 10th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Yes chaps.. I did say I thought it was pretty inevitable. And actually… No I’ve never so much as looked at anyone else’s ideas for the site in question.
Jalter - Copyright theft is not business. Pepsi didn’t break into a vault and steal Coke’s recipie. Nor was their slogan “Pepsi, Just For The Taste Of It”. Why should I not post about it on my blog anyway???? Its sitting right there in the SERPS for anyone to see. Hardly me giving away my secrets!
I DO talk about my sites. What I DONT give away is how I come up with what I put on them and my techniques for finding lucrative products. Now THAT would be stupid.
MAYBE shouldn’t steal? Nah… you just shouldn’t.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
You write one of the most open and useful of the UK affiliate blogs and it looks like you’ve paid the price, sadly. It must be upsetting to be ripped off like this and it’ll be really sad if you do have to hold back in your articles for that reason. I’m with the second part of what Matt says. Ask Paul nicely to take it down, once you’ve tracked him down, and if that doesn’t work, get a legal expert to get medieval on his arse. Another thought - you’re well known, successful and respected enough that if you let the network(s) and merchant(s) that are featured on yours and now presumably his site know what he has done, I’m sure they would consider cutting his commissions and maybe more.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Yes Stuart… you are of course correct!
Oh, I should have pointed out that Paul did indeed take his site down almost immediately, and also sent an e-mail of apology, which I have accepted. And yes, I went via the merchant as well just in case. The merchant was very supportive and also contacted Paul to let him know that this kind of activity wasn’t really on.
Must remember to update the post to reflect!
April 11th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Hi Kirsty my fellow Westie!!
Great news - a win for the good guys for once!
April 11th, 2008 at 9:22 am
It’d be a real shame and a blow to newbies and old hands alike if you stopped sharing your tips Kirsty. I’m glad Paul has seen the error of his ways.
Copying that closely isn’t a recipe for success anyway.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
You have been very helpfull to many newbies on A4u. It will be a shame if you stopped that because of one idiot. I hope they come to there senses.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Glad to hear the problem’s been solved …and to receive an apology as well, how heartwarming!
April 14th, 2008 at 9:32 am
[...] so after my outburst regarding someone ripping off my site content and structure I spent a bit of time having a good old think (It all got sorted out super quick, and Paul sent me [...]
April 16th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Imitation is the finest form of flattery - but could cause dupe content issues!
I’ll have to subscribe to and read your blog now - I’ve no idea what the site is!
JC
April 16th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Ah! If it’s all about undergarments then I’ve found it.
ooh same template but your favicon is way better than mine!
Nice site.
John
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Kirsty, first time reader with major interest in affiliates - I doubt you will but please don’t stop sharing - for every seed you plant here it will be returned to you by decent, hard working people who appreciate the leg up you’re giving them for even having the blog. Hope you stick around! Boo nasty Paul - give it up now and BE ORIGINAL - you owe it to us all!