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How to deal with marketers who steal your idea

by fredflintstone200
26 replies
How do you deal with more experienced and established marketers who use your idea and make lots of money off of it and take all the credit?
#deal #idea #marketers #steal
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    How did you know they stole your idea?

    Do you have documentation regarding
    - when you came up with your version of the idea
    - when they released their product
    - how much money they made

    IP trial attorneys would need the info above (and then some) to see if you have a case
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    • Profile picture of the author fredflintstone200
      I know they made a lot of money (between 2 and 3 million)
      they launched about 9 months after me, with similar slogans, design, product and on the same platform.
      they were more experienced and perfected my idea.
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      • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
        Originally Posted by fredflintstone200 View Post

        I know they made a lot of money (between 2 and 3 million)
        they launched about 9 months after me, with similar slogans, design, product and on the same platform.
        they were more experienced and perfected my idea.
        Coca-Cola, then Pepsi, then RC Cola, then just Cola, Soda, Pop.

        McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, In and Out Burger and a thousand others.

        Walmart, some of the richest people in the world, came after Woolworth's, Five and Dimes, and other kinds of stores, and not one of these except Coca-Cola was an original idea. (And that might be argued.)

        In fact, many people are taught to look for "faulty" ideas, or under served markets or inexperienced marketers and "perfect" the idea.

        Unless they stole any protected intellectual property, there doesn't appear to be theft. Now you have the experience to make sure it doesn't happen again.

        What did you do to protect your idea in the beginning? And how did they "perfect" it?

        I'm sorry, but unless real theft happened, you might reconsider calling them thieves. Unless you have solid proof, like the other poster suggested, you have no recourse.

        But we only have one side of the story, and even then, not much of it, do we?

        GordonJ
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        • Profile picture of the author Kurt
          Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post

          Coca-Cola, then Pepsi, then RC Cola, then just Cola, Soda, Pop.

          McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, In and Out Burger and a thousand others.

          Walmart, some of the richest people in the world, came after Woolworth's, Five and Dimes, and other kinds of stores, and not one of these except Coca-Cola was an original idea. (And that might be argued.)

          In fact, many people are taught to look for "faulty" ideas, or under served markets or inexperienced marketers and "perfect" the idea.

          Unless they stole any protected intellectual property, there doesn't appear to be theft. Now you have the experience to make sure it doesn't happen again.

          What did you do to protect your idea in the beginning? And how did they "perfect" it?

          I'm sorry, but unless real theft happened, you might reconsider calling them thieves. Unless you have solid proof, like the other poster suggested, you have no recourse.

          But we only have one side of the story, and even then, not much of it, do we?

          GordonJ
          For the sake of accuracy, I believe it was RC, then Pepsi, then Coke, which actually makes your point stronger.

          Concerning the OP, you can't protect an idea, other than to never share it. And it's tough to compete with most established competitors.

          Who are their established competition/rivals? Can you do JVs with them?

          What other ideas do they have that you can "borrow"? A good strategy is to take an expensive product and remove a feature or two and sell it cheaper or find a cheap product and add a few features and charge more for it.
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      • Profile picture of the author techwizard
        Originally Posted by fredflintstone200 View Post

        I know they made a lot of money (between 2 and 3 million)
        they launched about 9 months after me, with similar slogans, design, product and on the same platform.
        they were more experienced and perfected my idea.

        This is how major businesses were born, perfecting someone's else idea and putting it to market.


        I don't see how this is stealing if you didn't have any watermarked intellectual property stolen.


        Get yourself together and:


        1- Either find a default in their system and fix it in your new version.

        2- Find another idea and start working on it. Forget the past one!


        Wishing you good luck!
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      • Profile picture of the author writeaway
        Originally Posted by fredflintstone200 View Post

        I know they made a lot of money (between 2 and 3 million)
        they launched about 9 months after me, with similar slogans, design, product and on the same platform.
        they were more experienced and perfected my idea.
        Is YOUR site similar to any other previous site? If you can prove your site is ORIGINAL, you might want to get some legal advice.
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  • Profile picture of the author DaGeekin
    I just let them! My system is designed for People to steal my ideas Copy and paste them and run with them after all. Doesn't Hurt Me at all. If the idea is hurt by having one competitor flooding the market then it might be bad from the start! Its all about your strategy and how you can do it better. Don't focus on them and focus on your Strategy to be the one beating them or change it up!
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  • Profile picture of the author Art of Asset Profit
    Banned
    I remember reading Right in the WSO guidelines it states to Use other Warriors Sales Copy to Create your Own. I understand that but it still is amusing.

    Once I gave a Review Copy and the Reviewer started an entire Business based on what I shared inside and did not even give the Review.

    But really it is a part of doing business. Soon as there is a new innovation there are intelligent people seeking avenues to exploit it. Ask Samsung about Apple.

    Art
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  • Profile picture of the author fredflintstone200
    I feel bypassed. I had the original idea and worked really hard on it for almost a year to create a product and still I get beaten because guys have more money and a whole team on them executing and copying from me.
    Their CEO even took credit like he invented it, and now prides himself for being market leader. it really disgusts me.
    Marketing people are slimy con artists if you ask me.
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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by fredflintstone200 View Post

      Marketing people are slimy con artists if you ask me.
      Paint with a broad brush, much?

      So, you're just finding out, now, that life ain't fair? Get over it. Instead of moaning and whining you should be spending every waking moment either figuring out how to do to them what you say they did to you, or even better, coming up with something new with the potential for greater success, unless of curse you have blown your wad and are devoid of any more great ideas.

      Get off the pity pot. It's embarrassing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Meaney
      Originally Posted by fredflintstone200 View Post

      Marketing people are slimy con artists if you ask me.
      Yet here you are, asking for our help.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    This type of situation sucks. It's happened to me so I know it can be painful. I also know that there are positive ways to deal with this even though it hurts. Don't let yourself get stuck in fear, indecision, paranoia, etc. because of it though. Some of the above posts have good ideas for you to consider.

    I just barely came across this in my FB feed. It is a similar story with some tips to avoid this type of issue in the future.

    I assume that the two things you're selling in your signature are unique and you are the first one to ever do them right? You are the first person to create a book out of blog posts and do Twitter automation. Or did you copy those ideas from someone else?

    I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just asking a simple question.

    Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Art of Asset Profit
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    Originally Posted by fredflintstone200 View Post

    I know they made a lot of money (between 2 and 3 million)
    they launched about 9 months after me, with similar slogans, design, product and on the same platform.
    they were more experienced and perfected my idea.



    We really should anticipate as entrepreneurs. There will be other entrepreneurs watching. I know it is hindsight now but maybe you should have found someone that had strengths anywhere you had weakness in your plan. What happened in 9 Months? Did you see growth? Would you still be doing the same to this day with no competition?



    Originally Posted by fredflintstone200 View Post

    I feel bypassed. I had the original idea and worked really hard on it for almost a year to create a product and still I get beaten because guys have more money and a whole team on them executing and copying from me.
    Their CEO even took credit like he invented it, and now prides himself for being market leader. it really disgusts me.
    Marketing people are slimy con artists if you ask me.
    Right after that is your marketing sig so you have not totally given up that is good.

    But really you could have told your own relative or neighbor and suffered same fate.

    There is a compliment in it if you look for it. You did it, you can do again. You can improve on what they have or you can sulk and plot revenge. But no earnings in that.

    Use it as motivation and innovation. Think back those moments when you came up with the idea tap into those creative juices again my friend.

    Art
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  • Profile picture of the author Pablo Visconti
    Yeah, that just outright sucks.

    Not getting the recognition for what you've come up with, is terrible. After all...what keeps an artist creating, is the feeling of getting credited for his/her creation.

    There is probably no better way to overcome it, other than just being more careful, and like some members were saying, just worry about YOU.

    Try for it not to happen again, but then use the anger to rise and keep moving
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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by Pablo Visconti View Post

      After all...what keeps an artist creating, is the feeling of getting credited for his/her creation.
      So, you're saying it's all about ego? Here, I always thought it was about the money.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Impossible Fred. This is Stone Age thinking Think abundance. No shortage of anything. Even bronto burgers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jennifer Isola
    Prepare Your Acceptance Speech. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. ...
    Don't Let Copycats Kill Your Vibe. ...
    Stay True to Your Customers. ...
    Finally, my personal favourite: ignore them. ...
    Don't be afraid to speak up.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    I had the original idea and worked really hard on it for almost a year to create a product and still I get beaten because guys have more money and a whole team on them executing and copying from me.
    Their CEO even took credit like he invented it, and now prides himself for being market leader.
    Maybe the "passion" people have convinced you that business is all fuzzy unicorns and helpful, caring "mentors."

    Welcome to the real world.

    I've suggested this before, and I'm sure I will again at some point: Read the story of J.D. Rockefeller. His dad would involve young John in business deals and try to rob, swindle or generally take advantage of him.

    If people didn't want to cooperate with his plans, he would put them out of business.

    If someone actually "stole" something from you, then your course would be law enforcement and attorneys.

    Brent
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    I've seen people spend more time trying to protect their idea than working on it to improve it and in the end it has been disastrous for them. Unless it's something like copyright infringement then either keep working on it or come up with something new and move on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vilas Lade
    It happens in lot many companies...stealing Idea of others can harm in near future.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Hodgins
    Unfortunately ideas are a dime a dozen. Success is in effective execution of said idea. Competition in the world is merciless.

    The best you can do is execute your best version and let the market decide.
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    Consulting, coaching.
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    Originally Posted by fredflintstone200 View Post

    How do you deal with more experienced and established marketers who use your idea and make lots of money off of it and take all the credit?
    At what point does the gratitude for the fact that your idea was WORTH using set in?

    What I would do.... buy the other guys product - chances are good they bought yours. Call it an R&D expense. Then take your existing product... and look where thiers maybe better or worse expand on it, and create a new product and throw it out as version 2.0.

    The thing you are missing... The idea.. yours.. and the product, thiers is PROVING that there is a market for said product. If they bought the product once.. chances are good they will buy AGAIN.. and why not YOURS this time round? They have done the hard work for you already. they have cemented the market. Let 2019 be the year you get yours!

    Best of luck man!
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    Success is an ACT not an idea
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert X
    I thought of shoes that I called Niko
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  • Profile picture of the author George Flm
    You write it off as experience or cry foul in forums. Next time make sure you launch better and in a timely fashion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom B
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    This is nothing new. Someone or a company comes up with something unique and it is quickly copied.

    That is why you see a lot of companies taking huge losses in order to grow. It makes it incredibly difficult to copy something that continues to be improved.

    You mentioned they were able to do this 9 months after you released your program?

    That is a long time. I would take a hard look at why they were able to do so after you had 9 months to build upon your product.

    Did you get lazy after you released it?

    Also take a look at what they did to make the idea a success while you weren't able to do so.

    You can be angry and upset but that won't do you any good. Being honest and looking at this like a learning experience will allow you to be more successful next time.
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