I Have Been Ripped Off!

[MamaBear]

Confront her

I had the same thing happen but it wasnt someone I knew. It was a new daycare in the area and she copied my ad and parts of my website word for word. It really ticked me off. I called her & emailed her. I told her that my website it copyrighted and if she didnt change her wording asap then I would get her for copyright infringement. I wouldnt really but I wanted to scare her! -- It worked because she changed it asap and then blamed "her friend" for being the one that wrote her ad and that she wouldnt let it happen again. Whatever!

I think you should email or call her and tell her that you'd appreciate it if she doesnt use the pictures of YOUR crafts and makes her ad sound like what HER daycare offers and not what your daycare offers. That would really irritate me. I say confront her. Shes pretty ballsy for copying it so much like that... Or stupid.

[daycare]

I have also taken ideas from other peoples sites when i started, but these were not people that i was in competition with. These people live hunders maybe thousands of miles away. I also didnt use their ideas word for word...


this really ****s that it is not only someone in town, but someone who attends your daycare...

[MamaBear]

my website...

I added this onto my website after that lady tried to copy a lot of it. This is on the front page of my site. It seemed to do the trick. I also added some things on my site so they cant copy & paste anything anymore. This is what it says:

***The text in this website and the pictures within this website are owned by me & copyright protected. All pictures of the children were posted with the parent's permission. Do NOT copy any text or pictures from this website or further action WILL be taken***

[PitterPatter]

[QUOTE=MamaBear;111261]I added this onto my website after that lady tried to copy a lot of it. This is on the front page of my site. It seemed to do the trick. I also added some things on my site so they cant copy & paste anything anymore. This is what it says:

***The text in this website and the pictures within this website are owned by me & copyright protected. All pictures of the children were posted with the parent's permission. Do NOT copy any text or pictures from this website or further action WILL be taken***[/QUOTE]

Can I steal that? ~running away~
::

[busymomof2]

I added this onto my website after that lady tried to copy a lot of it. This is on the front page of my site. It seemed to do the trick. I also added some things on my site so they cant copy & paste anything anymore. This is what it says:

***The text in this website and the pictures within this website are owned by me & copyright protected. All pictures of the children were posted with the parent's permission. Do NOT copy any text or pictures from this website or further action WILL be taken***

I'm going to add this to my site. Thank you everybody for your advice. I was hesitant to help her but everyone thought it would be nice to help a sahm...which I agree. I gave her advice on where to go, who to call, what the process it, where to get things, etc. She never asked me about helping her write an ad, contract or policies I'm assuming because she already had mine to copy. She ripped off my art and ideas by just coming to my home everyday and my website. At first I was pissed now I'm upset because I liked her. I even gave her a baby shower gift that I made. It's sad that you can't trust people.
I don't want to confront her because she is scheduled to come to my home for the preschool graduation. I really don't want her to come back into my home but I already invited her and her child. I was thinking about emailing her and saying that because her child is only 3 technically he hasn't completed preschool. The other kids are all going to Kinder in the Fall but he has one more year. He can't even write his name. What do you think? What she did was wrong but I don't need enemies I just need her out of my house and out of my business.

[Mom_of_two]

I agree with pp's!
I am SO sorry you are going through this. I had a former DCM do the same thing, and while she did not (I don't think) copy my handbook she did copy someone else's. I contacted an attorney. It is accurate that when you right something original it is automatically protected by copyright. I would not joke about it and let the other provider know that you will not tolerate her using your words/info/etc. You can also send a 'cease and desist' letter with the attorney's help. Keep us posted!!

[snbauser]

Although it is frustrating that she just copied your stuff, I personally wouldn't worry too much about it. Anyone can write anything they want on their website, but it will come down to how she runs her business. If she can't "live up to" what is on her website, then she won't be able to keep clients. I work with new providers all of the time. I share with them the knowledge I have gained over the last 8 years. I don't consider any of the providers around me "competition". I consider them "co-workers". That is the whole idea of networking and being part of a family child care association.