An unfortunate reality of succeeding in your field is that there will always be one inevitable enemy to face: the copycat. Whether it’s your brilliant business model, your website’s unique aesthetic, or even your killer fashion sense, someone out there is bound to mimic it.
While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it can also be downright infuriating when you’ve invested the sweat equity needed to build something great. So, let’s dive into how to deal with these creative kleptomaniacs.
Taking the Compliment
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” – Oscar Wilde
First things first, take a deep breath and consider this: someone thought your idea was so good that it was worth copying. That’s a compliment. A strange, backhanded and lazy compliment, but a compliment nonetheless. It means you’re doing something better than the majority. You’ve engineered a product or identity that’s so cool, even a generic knock-off has value.
Consider this a sign that your company compass is aligned. Remember, if your presence had no impact, no one would bother to replicate your work. The fact that you have copycats means you’ve hit a nerve, struck gold, pioneered a new frontier, or whatever metaphor you prefer. Use this as a motivation to keep blowing your competition out of the water. After all, the brand name is always better than the generic (unless it’s Costco/Kirkland brand coffee, that’s actually the good one.)
Understanding Your Options for Recourse
Now that we’ve addressed the emotional side of things, it’s time to switch to our left brains. What can you actually do when someone imitates something you’ve built or the way your company operates?
Here are a few options:
- Try Direct (Professional) Confrontation
You could directly confront the copycat. This can be tricky and requires tact. A polite, yet firm message pointing out the similarities and asking for credit or discontinuation might do the trick. Proceed with caution, however, as this could also escalate into a public spat, which could get messy fast.
- Take Legal Action
If the copying is blatant and could cause significant harm to your revenue or brand, legal action might be the way to go. This is where copyright, trademark, and patent laws come into play. Consult with a legal professional to understand your rights and your obligations in order to decide on the best course of action. Something of note: legal proceedings can get very expensive, very fast. Consider your options before putting a lawyer on retainer, or plan ahead by protecting your assets in advance.
Tip: Is someone using your trademark as a domain name? You can file a UDRP complaint to avoid legal action.
- Sway Public Perception
Contrary to our earlier statement, sometimes leveraging the public eye could be just the solution you need. Stay with us here. Depending on your industry, social media can be a powerful tool for this. A well-crafted post or short form video showcasing the similarities and calling out the copycat can rally your customers and put pressure on the perpetrator. But tread carefully; this approach can backfire if not handled delicately.
- Use Your Innovation
The best way to stay ahead of copycats is to keep innovating. Even the best copycats can only see what you’ve done, not what you’re doing, nor can they see the master plan you’ve formulated. Stay focused behind the scenes on doing what you do best and making it the best it can be. This not only keeps your work fresh and exciting but also establishes you as a true leader in your field.
Keeping Your Unique Edge
Even when the storms roll in while you’re faced with a copycat conundrum, it’s crucial to stay in touch with what made you unique in the first place.
Here are ways to keep your creative mojo intact:
- Self-Reflection
Take time to reflect on your journey. What inspired you initially? What are your company’s core values? Reconnecting with these can help you stay grounded and focused on your unique path.
- Continuous Learning
The best business owners are lifelong learners. Attend workshops, read books, and leave yourself open to new ideas. The more you expand your horizons, the more unique your perspective becomes.
- Community Engagement
Engage with your community. Your colleagues and peers can help remind you of what you’re doing well and what attracted clients to you in the first place. Try to keep in mind that your success didn’t come out of a vacuum.
- Creative Experimentation
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Try offering new services, establish a new social media account, or make an existing offering even better by optimizing your logistics and processes. This makes you an even stronger player in your field and reinforces your identity as an innovator rather than an imitator.
Dealing with copycats can be a frustrating and exhausting experience, but it doesn’t have to derail your mindset or your business. Take the compliment, understand your options, and most importantly, stay true to what makes you unique. Keep excelling, and let the copycats chase your shadow while you bask in the spotlight.