Someone is stealing from me.

[TheGoat]

So, I have a google alert set up for certain terms, and I get an email when google runs across them as they index more sites. well last week I got a new hit for "Hungry Goat Lawn Service." (My company name.) so I follow the link, and some douchebag up in Indian Head, North Carolina has stolen my name. Not only that, but the theiving low life has copied some of the content on my site and posted it on his. What do you guys think? Fair game or dirty pool? www.hungrygoatlawns.com <-mine www.hungrygoatlawn.com <-douchebags

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Hungry Goat Lawn Service, Deltona, FL

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Last edited by TheGoat; 03-18-2011 at 10:26 PM. Reason: added urls

[jklawncare]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by TheGoat So, I have a google alert set up for certain terms, and I get an email when google runs across them as they index more sites. well last week I got a new hit for "Hungry Goat Lawn Service." (My company name.) so I follow the link, and some douchebag up in Indian Head, North Carolina has stolen my name. Not only that, but the theiving low life has copied some of the content on my site and posted it on his. What do you guys think? Fair game or dirty pool? www.hungrygoatlawns.com <**-mine www.hungrygoatlawn.com <**-douchebags Firstly, I would like to say..I LOVE the layout of your website..it looks fantastic.. also thats a bad move on his part. Is theree a way you can get him in trouble? have you copyrighted your name or something?

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Just Kut Lawn and Landscape
"Where Service is Always in Season"
Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud.

[SpokaneSRC]

The only thing I could see that was copied, as far as text, was the "have a look around our website ... May be coincidence? They're in NC and you're in FL so it's not like they are in direct compitition with you. You're site looks a lot better. Have you emailed them about how close their site resembles yours?
I personally wouldn't sweat it, but that's me.

[jymie]

The two names although very similar, you have an "S" at the end as he does not. Not sure if that is considered infringement or not. The look of the sites are not remotely close at all. Also since he is not any where near you, I would not worry to much about it.

[CHEESE2009]

For some reason this truly aggravates me.

Either way, he's using "Vistaprint" hosting which means it wont be up long before he realizes how much money he's wasting with them. Unless it's some sort of "free" junk, as I see their advertising on the bottom of the page.

I'm trying to think of the "pros" about this situation, but the fact that your name is original - and he has it... makes me wonder?!?! Very odd...

The cons would be, your customers end up going to his site accidentally and noticing how poorly it looks compared to yours.

Possibly, it could be a "lurker" on this forum who glanced at your name ages ago - somehow he may have subconsciously thought up the name without realizing how he came up with it. When I was 7 years old, I could have sworn I came up with the name "Poutine" (Fries, Gravy, Cheese).

or, it could be a lurker with intentions of stealing your genius.




We shall figure this one out, in time!

[TheGoat]

forgot to add, my google analytics tracked a lot of visits from indian head NC in the week before his site went up.

[Simpkins]

Originally Posted by TheGoat

forgot to add, my google analytics tracked a lot of visits from indian head NC in the week before his site went up.

His advertising may be working then.

[Steve]

I also found http://www.2guysandagoat.com/

[cleancutlawncare5382]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

Either way, he's using "Vistaprint" hosting which means it wont be up long before he realizes how much money he's wasting with them.

I agree with Scott, the other site won’t be up long.

Continue to do the great work that separates you from the pack.

[brian'slawncare]

if your name is copyrighted, the "s" is still considered infringement. Anyone hear about "The South Butt" being sued by "The North Face" ?

However, they don't seem to pose a threat since they are quite a distance from you and their site looks like garbage compared to yours....