Copying isn’t a Compliment
October 18, 2007
My lovely green sod is in my driveway and I should be elated, my miracle is almost complete. I should be on my knees today thanking God for the blessing…instead I’m fuming. The curbing is finished and my beautiful flagstone pathway to my front door is the talk of the neighborhood (really)…I was proud at first and now I’m upset because now that my yard is done, the crew is being hired to duplicate my landscaping (actually Nancy designed it for me) two doors down. My neighbors called me, complimented me, and then told me they wanted the same thing! So I want to beg the landscaper to turn them down and to do something different, nevermind that I’ve waited 5 years for my yard to get done and wanted to BE DIFFERENT. Be still my soul!
Ironically this experience is similar to another one I heard about today. One of our Startup Princesses who is a designer feels uncomfortable by a particular person (she can tell by the IP address) who seems to be stalking her website for hours, spending a lot of time on every single page of her site. She’s concerned, and I can see why. I tried to cheer her up and said, “consider it a compliment”, move foward, don’t focus on it” and I told her to see what she can do about protecting her design, but she really doesn’t think there’s anything she can do about it.
And there’s really nothing I can do about my neighbor wanting a flagstone pathway just like mine. Money talks. Hire the right person and you can get whatever you want in this world. And it stinks sometimes. I remember when Shade Clothing started and then within a year several other ‘me too’ companies launched. I know Char Garn, Co-Founder and she’s convinced as a designer you just have to be constantly thinking about the next season.
But there’s something in me that says, ‘Don’t you care about my dreams? About my effort, time and money?’ Can’t you dream something else?? Is it wrong for me to think that way?
Fairy Godmother, Artist/Designer Jamie Lentzer has discussed this issue here and here on her blog and Startup Princess Shelly Kennedy of Drooz Studio (one of my absolute FAVORITE designers ever!!! watch for her interview next week!) has also felt the sting more than a few times of artists copying her designs. Shelly commented on Jamie’s post saying, “… I regret NOT being more publicly vocal regarding the topic – it is just happening too much and to too many pioneer companies, products, websites and designers. It just drains my creativity to see this happen – but I need to keep my creativity to fight back – my most precious weapon!…”
Copying isn’t cool and it certainly ISN’T a compliment. If anything copying demonstrates lack of creativity and lack of compassion for others, particularly when money is concerned. I hope Startup Princesses take the challenge and always design with integrity and with pure intentions.
Todays’ Magic Wand: How do you handle it when someone copies YOU? Do tell!!
Very interesting topic and a frustrating one for people who try to be creative. Many of the companies whose products are carried on my website deal with this directly ALL the time. I have dealt with it indirectly and either way it isn’t fun. It does push me to be on the top of my game though. If I didn’t have competition I might not be as driven to offer the very best I can so that is a good thing. I am intrigued by this ISP thing. I have heard of other people tracking this. How do you know who it is, do you?
You’re right, it does push us to the top of our game…and make us use our magic wands every day!
From what I understand the IP address and city are listed for this individual so she knows that much, but not a name.
Make a Wish, Make it Happen,
Kelly
When my husband and I were traveling crafters, it used to GALL me no end when people would come up, pick up a piece I had worked on for weeks, ask me questions about it then turn to their friends and tell them glibly, that they had the stuff and could do it cheaper. Loverly! Then, one day, I had a major AHA!
The next person who asked me about it and said they wanted to make one, I put on my best excited face and burbled all over them that I couldn’t wait to see theirs. I would be at such and such a location in a few weeks so please would they bring me theirs? Doing xyz took me weeks of trial and error and I sure would love to see what they come up with. Especially since x took doing it this way, and y took doing it that way.
By this time, their eyes have glazed and their jaws are slack. The person stammered she had no idea it was so complicated and that she really didn’t have time to make one herself if it took all that work. Could I mail it to her since she didn’t want to get it messed up while she continued shopping.
Big smile, take the money. This has worked many times. I personally don’t believe in the Law of Scarcity and a lot of others do. There’s enough of everything to go around a couple of times if people know how to create the good things in their lives. Once you start to think like a hoarder, supply tends to dwindle and die. Even if people copy my work, it isn’t exactly like mine and I did it first anyway.
I would suggest that if your neighbors have watched the construction of your yard, they will know the other people had a limited amount of creativity and just copied yours once they saw how great a job you had done designing it!
Kelly -
First let me say I’m sorry to hear your neighbor
had the desire to duplicate your front yard! Yug!
I’m sure it looks amazing – but why would she want the
same darn thing…come on people…BE ORIGINAL!
Secondly – thank you for tackling this topic… I feel it is a really important moral issue.
I remember being in 3rd grade and after the teacher read the book Helen Keller to the class we were to each draw a picture of our favorite part if the book… I drew a big yellow Victorian house with all the gingerbread trim, a water pump, and Helen and Ms. Annie Sullivan sitting in the yard. Well… so did the girl sitting next to me! The exact same thing!!! This was no coincidence – same crayon colors, same number of front porch steps, same tree, same bird, same dress on Helen – I was shocked! I was mad! I was 8 years old and experiencing this feeling for the very first time … Oh my Gosh – she copied me! She stole from me! Why would she do this? I could not grasp why she would want to draw something “just like mine”… Did she not have any imagination of her own?? I almost felt sad for her.
I still don’t understand why she did it. (or why others still do it today)There are endless combinations of colors, designs, styles, icons, – there is no reason 2 pieces of art (or 2 front yards) should ever look the same!
The moral of my story…
This is a concept (don’t copy others) that we should have all learned in grade school!
So… “Grow Up .. and Get Original”!
thank you,
shelly
drooz.com
Kellly,
I am sorry that is happening to you – and I remember when that happened to my parents, however it was our neighbors next door. They painted the house same color as ours, even added the brick accents, and brick planters we had – I kid you not. I can not tell you how many dates, and new friends would show up at the wrong house.
Copying does make me mad – it is a frustrating thing, and it is also very demoralizing, depressing and worstly it makes you lose your focus. Stay original – that should be our rally cry!
Thanks for shedding some light on the subject – hopefully it will make “people” think twice about it.
I appreciate you bringing up this topic, Kelly. It’s a shame that people can’t feel totally comfortable sharing their ideas and getting others excited about their dreams. I have never liked having to be secretive about new designs, styles and especially ideas, but I guess that is just a fact of life. However, once you are out there, you are out there. And sometimes there isn’t really a way to protect your design or idea so you must figure out a way to do it the best.
It is a VERY frustrating feeling though to feel as if someone is copying you or stealing your work. Intellectual property!
I am sorry about your yard – that is not a fun situation.
I would encourage you to find something – anything – that’s different about your neighbor’s yard.
Here’s why: A couple years ago, I was taking an improv workshop and the teacher encouraged us to copy what other people do. The reason? It will look different on us.
I’ve been doing this lately – copying Kristen Wiig from Saturday Night Live – during my improv classes. I’m not really admitting this to my improv buddies – because, well, I’m not on TV!
But the truth is – that what’s inside your home is what counts. I’m guessing that experiencing one night at your house would be fun and imaginative while a night at your neighbor’s house would be average at best.
Wow, thanks Dear Princesses for all of the great ideas and comments here…it’s been great to have your support on this topic, particularly today!
Just now the landscaper dropped off my neighbor’s stone (same color as mine) at her house. (Can mine be done for just 1 day?!) I wanted to scream at first. I asked the landscaper as he was finishing mine if theirs can be different and he said he’s just doing what they ask him, but it won’t have stairs like mine does…(1 difference, Nathania!)
Then I went inside and read these comments and the words, “Forgive them, they know not what they do.” came to my memory and I realized that it’s true, she doesn’t realize that her choice to copy is offensive and it hurts me…time for me to grow up a bit and see it’s an opportunity to learn a good lesson in seeing the differences that do and WILL exist–choices of flowers, etc all that will shape it too…so just you wait, my creativity is just about to bloom! Peace be still.
This is a yard…my home. For business, when someone copies a logo, concept, design, it’s more than personal…do you still say, “Forgive them, they know not what they do?” I hope I can say that then too.
We had a similar home situation happen in our small town. One family painted their home a new fabulous color with fabulous trim. It was stunning. The next door neighbors liked it so much, they did the exact same thing! The original family got so upset, they painted black polka dots all over their house to make a point. Doubtful you want to do anything so drastic to your yard, but it was quite a fun and obvious statement that they were not happy. They did eventually repaint a more normal, yet different, color scheme.
That’s very funny!, Thanks for making me laugh! Welcome to Startup Princess, Susan. I think it’s your first time to comment?
Are you a Startup Princess? Tell us more about you.
Wow! I just cannot believe what I am reading. I am a first timer here. I just posted this huge blog about what I read yesterday on Jamie’s blog via Drooz Studio. The whole yard design is insane. I hate that for you. I hate that people constantly copy others. It’s one thing to be inspired, but sad to copy. Maybe some of us could hire out the copiers (since they are so good at it), put them under contract and then have them copy our designs onto our products. What a great concept. I think I’ll look for them at market in January! I have enjoyed finding others who are similar in thought with me. Makes us feel like sisters! Be Creative!!
Hey Kelly, You are famous AGAIN – or I am…hard to tell but check out this blog – http://www.themommyblog.net/ she is quoting you from my site….I think. Again – such a topic we got going! Last post was hysterical – I swear I would love to hear you did that!
Hi Laurie, Welcome to Startup Princess! Great suggestions!
I’ll be contacting you soon to join “the Kingdom of Women Entrepreneurs”
Jamie, thanks for the head’s up…popular topic!
Yes, I agree that Laurie’s onto a breakthrough!! 
Ironically Nathania’s earlier comment about how the same thing looks different on different people is proving to be true. They finished their pathway (which DOES have stairs after all), however, whe I saw it last night it looked so much different because of their house and shape of their lot, etc. and they chose to have it run through grass and mine runs though a big bed for flowers. I’m not so bothered today.
Yes, I supposed I’m a Startup Princess. I’ve been selling my children’s paintings on sites such as eBay for 5 years. It’s just me for now, but I’m contemplating expanding which is how I found your site. Perhaps one day soon I’ll grow some wings and follow in the footsteps of the great children’s artists such as Shelly Kennedy! I’ve been copied as well…mostly from other “eBay moms”. It’s very frustrating. You can view my recent works on my blog… http://www.mysweetimaginations.typepad.com …be sure to say “hi” if you stop by!
Yes! You’re a Startup Princess, Susan! I’ll contact you by email so you can have your own profile page on our site. Welcome! Keep creating, you have a fun style and I think the answer is to keep things fresh all the time…you’ll always be one step ahead.
It is funny you mention this topic. I recently attended a conference and had the opportunity to meet someone in the baby industry I admire a great deal– she came up with a unique twist to a baby product that was already on the market, made it her own, and now they sell in over 500 stores.
Long story short, I noticed lately a lot of people copying her. I asked what she does about it, as it would be hard to stop each person. She said that you cannot be so busy looking around at what other people are doing that you forget to focus on what is important- making yourself stand out. They were the first on the market, and that is why people ultimately buy this particular brand. It is the best.
The infamous Bobux/Robeez battle comes to mind, and they say on the website: “imitation is the ultimate form of flattery.” While I doubt they thought that when they were battling Robeez, the point is that people will always copy something that is successful. Be the best. Customers will notice.
Excellent point, Jamie! Seth Godin calls it “The Purple Cow”, he says that everyone would stop to notice a purple cow…right? Be different and if you are getting copied, differentiate!! Keep innovating. Apple knows how to do that. Read Seth’s latest book, The Dip. It’s all about being the best at what you do or get out of the industry and find out what you can be best at.