Why should you feel good if someone rips off your stuff?

Hi!

I thought I'd make this post because I've noticed a few people recently have been upset because apparently their stuff has been ripped off. I 100% agree that it really sucks (I've had that happen to me in the past, so I know what it's like. I also managed to get it rectified to my satisfaction, so that was nice too ) But..........

There is actually a reason you should feel good (and might make it easier for you while you are protecting your rights and getting the person that ripped off your content to stop).

1. You should feel good because it means you are now starting to enter the big times and making an impact in other people's lives. Little players don't get ripped off, because they are too small. They don't have the reach. Crappy content doesn't get ripped off, because it is too crappy. People that make an impact, however, or have a quality product -- get copied/duplicated/ripped off/etc -- because someone else sees the value in that product/service and thinks that other people would like it as well. If someone rips off your stuff, you should look at it as a blessing -- it means you are starting to make an impact in other's peoples lives, and that you are starting to get 'in touch' with what people are looking for. So it's a good sign. Keep doing what you are doing and you will most likely enjoy much more success.

2. Just because someone rips off your stuff, doesn't mean they will be able to sell it. In fact, it actually helps you. Here's how. First off all, just because someone rips your stuff off -- doesn't mean they can make money. People like to think that you can simply rip off an idea and "magically" make money, it doesn't work that way. Why? Because they need to market the product/service. Hopefully (and obviously) you've learned how to market, whether its article marketing/videos/PPC/SEO, etc, etc. If someone rips off your stuff -- they would also have to know how to market it in order to make a profit from it. If they don't know how to write effective ads, or what software to use to "snipe" at bidding costs, or which directories to promote to, they aren't going to make a profit, in fact they'll lose a lot of money in the process. Plus, most people that try to 'rip off' someone else's idea are looking at "getting rich quick". They are generally lazy (heck, they ripped you off, and didn't even bother changing the landing/sales page/product/etc! ) So. If they don't see a return within say 1-2 days (the longer ones might wait 1-2 weeks), they get bored/discouraged/annoyed, and either try ripping someone else off, or simply giving up. If they "do" make money -- chances are it is like 1-2 copies/month. And, in a way it helps you in terms of "brand" recognition. Many times I have seen people that have their content ripped off actually more successful -- simply because potential customers are "familiar" with the "brand" name, etc. As an aside, if someone gets something for free (say 'stolen' stuff) -- many times they feel guilty and will 'eventually' make a purchase from the 'original' publisher.

Second... the people that do know how to market effectively, who have studied the techniques, who have successfully implemented them, don't usually rip you off! (Or if they do, they are smart enough to make their own unique product so it pretty much has no resemblance to yours anyways, and you wouldn't recognize it if you saw it. But from my experience, generally speaking these people have pride/confidence in their own abilities, so wouldn't rip you off in the first place). The select few that might consider it, generally don't -- because it would affect their reputation in the marketplace and make it difficult for them to do business elsewhere.

Bottomline:

Don't worry if someone rips you off! Look at it as a good thing -- you are starting to learn how to market effectively -- because you are now increasiing your reach and making an impact on other people's lives with quality products. Of course take appropriate action to get the infringing content removed, but don't worry/fret about it. The people that rip you off out-right generally speaking have no clue how to make money at it (because they are inherently lazy and don't want to work at it) -- and the people who could make money at your idea don't usually rip it off because they don't want to jeapordize their other business activities and/or have to much pride/confidence in their own abilities, so wouldn't rip you off in the first place.

Anyways, I hope that makes a few people who have experienced this feel better, and rest easy. Just keep working on creating quality products/services, honing and improving your marketing skills, and several years later you might have some of these people applying for a job at your company meanwhile you are trying to decide what country you should fly to for a weekend getaway

Cheers,

Johnathan

PPS: Of course, do everything you can do to protect your Intellectual Property. But don't get worked up about it Take action, and keep working!