CopyCats - WOW Already ! Give your advice, please.

M

MikeJanis

Banned
As most of AZ forum members know, I have been working on a complete system for the overall growth of our sport which culminates in a US Pro Tour. I have worked and formulated this system for over four years.

It was just brought to my attention from a potential supporter of this system that someone from another agency asked their company to support almost exactly to a T the system I developed for our sport.

Of course, I have copyrights on all of the information regarding this system I have created and disseminated so the offending parties will be hearing from me to cease and desist but.......... What can I say. What a joke. The offenders are a well known billiard entity but have no experience in these matters regarding tournaments or membership services. In fact, they have an already tarnished reputation . I hope I am able to convince them to stop before their reputation is tarnished even further.

PLEASE DO NOT SPECULATE AS TO WHO THEY MAY BE. We as a community through AZ forums definitely do not want to get anything wrong with assumptions and tarnish an innocent person or company through speculation. Again, please do not post any names of companies you think it may be.

Does anyone have any advice to offer ?
 
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The first and best

Mike,

The way to beat copycats is to be the first and the best. The imitators can never keep up with the innovators.

sending you a PM.

Hu




MikeJanis said:
As most of AZ forum members know, I have been working on a complete system for the overall growth of our sport which culminates in a US Pro Tour. I have worked and formulated this system for over four years.

It was just brought to my attention from a potential supporter of this system that someone from another agency asked their company to support almost exactly to a T the system I developed for our sport.

Of course, I copyrighted my information and program so the offending parties will be hearing from me to cease and desist but.......... What can I say. What a joke. The offenders are a well known billiard entity but have no experience in these matters regarding tournaments or membership services. In fact, they have an already tarnished reputation in the billiard industry for scamming internet buyers and such. I hope I am able to convince them to stop before their reputation is tarnished even further.

PLEASE DO NOT SPECULATE AS TO WHO THEY MAY BE. We as a community through AZ forums definately do not want to get anything wrong with assumptions and tarnish an innocent person or company through speculation. Again, please do not post any names of companies you think it may be.

Does anyone have any advice to offer ?
Click to expand...
 
ShootingArts said:
Mike,

The way to beat copycats is to be the first and the best. The imitators can never keep up with the innovators.

sending you a PM.

Hu
Click to expand...

Tell that to bill gates
 
MikeJanis said:
See, there we go with the speculation. This is exactly how rumors start and you are 100% wrong. Please delete your post as I will delete your quote after your revision.

Thank You,

Mj
Click to expand...

Maybe you should edit your original post so that you do not insinuate who you are talking about and pointing out things like "they already have a tarnished reputation". My post was in humor.....sorry you failed to see that.

Southpaw
 
MikeJanis said:
As most of AZ forum members know, I have been working on a complete system for the overall growth of our sport which culminates in a US Pro Tour. I have worked and formulated this system for over four years.

It was just brought to my attention from a potential supporter of this system that someone from another agency asked their company to support almost exactly to a T the system I developed for our sport.

Of course, I copyrighted my information and program so the offending parties will be hearing from me to cease and desist but.......... What can I say. What a joke. The offenders are a well known billiard entity but have no experience in these matters regarding tournaments or membership services. In fact, they have an already tarnished reputation in the billiard industry for scamming internet buyers and such. I hope I am able to convince them to stop before their reputation is tarnished even further.

PLEASE DO NOT SPECULATE AS TO WHO THEY MAY BE. We as a community through AZ forums definately do not want to get anything wrong with assumptions and tarnish an innocent person or company through speculation. Again, please do not post any names of companies you think it may be.

Does anyone have any advice to offer ?
Click to expand...

Sorry Mike, but I just wanted to clarify a misconception. One cannot copyright or patent "ideas". For that reason, one should never publicly post the particulars of an idea for a business model. You may copyright the "name" of a business or something, but not the "idea" of it.

If this organization that is attempting to horn in on your idea is well funded, or has access to more potential investors than you do, I highly suggest getting the ball rolling now, to take advantage of your specialized knowledge/contacts, before this other organization figures out the stuff it does not know already.

And if this organization has intentionally scammed people on the internet, I highly doubt you asking nicely for them to "stop it please" is gonna make one iota of difference.

Not being critical, I'm just trying to help you recognize the position you are currently in.

Russ
 
Russ Chewning said:
Sorry Mike, but I just wanted to clarify a misconception. One cannot copyright or patent "ideas". For that reason, one should never publicly post the particulars of an idea for a business model. You may copyright the "name" of a business or something, but not the "idea" of it.

If this organization that is attempting to horn in on your idea is well funded, or has access to more potential investors than you do, I highly suggest getting the ball rolling now, to take advantage of your specialized knowledge/contacts, before this other organization figures out the stuff it does not know already.

And if this organization has intentionally scammed people on the internet, I highly doubt you asking nicely for them to "stop it please" is gonna make one iota of difference.

Not being critical, I'm just trying to help you recognize the position you are currently in.

Russ
Click to expand...
I agree. You can't copyright an idea. Johnnyt
 
MikeJanis said:
As most of AZ forum members know, I have been working on a complete system for the overall growth of our sport which culminates in a US Pro Tour. I have worked and formulated this system for over four years.

It was just brought to my attention from a potential supporter of this system that someone from another agency asked their company to support almost exactly to a T the system I developed for our sport.

Of course, I copyrighted my information and program so the offending parties will be hearing from me to cease and desist but.......... What can I say. What a joke. The offenders are a well known billiard entity but have no experience in these matters regarding tournaments or membership services. In fact, they have an already tarnished reputation in the billiard industry for scamming internet buyers and such. I hope I am able to convince them to stop before their reputation is tarnished even further.

PLEASE DO NOT SPECULATE AS TO WHO THEY MAY BE. We as a community through AZ forums definately do not want to get anything wrong with assumptions and tarnish an innocent person or company through speculation. Again, please do not post any names of companies you think it may be.

Does anyone have any advice to offer ?
Click to expand...

Hasn't Mike already mentioned above that he has copyright to it? If I'm not mistaken, it is not an idea, it is a process and can be copyrighted. I could be wrong and stand corrected.
 
Mike, your post doesn't precisely describe that nature on what you think you have copyrighted but I've been in the music publishing business for a number of years and my company was the lead plaintiff in what turned out to be one of the largest copyright infringment settlements in many years.

Genearlly, the following kinds of "works" can be copyrighted.

literary works
musical works, including any accompanying words
dramatic works, including any accompanying music
pantomimes and choreographic works
pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
motion pictures and other audiovisual works
sound recordings
architectural works

I don't IMAGINE that your pool tour structure ITSELF is subject to copyright.

True, the TEXT and any original pictures/graphics that may have been included in any document you have created would be subject to copyright BUT not the ideas contained therein.

In addition, titles are not subject to copyright but trade names can be protected via Trademark, Service Mark law.

How did you go about attempting to obtain copyright protection for what you have created?

Regards,
Jim
 
My advice:

Get committments based on what you bring to the table. Loyalty goes farther than inexperience if you get to market first.

So you sell your EXPERIENCE -

Since the other company has a "tarnished" reputation coupled with inexperience then they shouldn't be able to beat you in the market unless they are bringing something to the table like more money. But I doubt that they are going to be adding money or funding this tour or they would just do it already.

The other thing is..... if you don't want people to speculate then don't put something like this on the street. It's natural that people will want to guess at who this is.

This is what I want to see in the short term: Mike Janis and Mark Griffin combine forces to start this. Then long term I'd like to see the APA and the VNEA and TAP and so on come on board with their members to provide a huge base.

Ideas are not copyrightable. You can patent a system though. However you should know that such patents are realtively easy to defeat when they center around a business method.

The best way to defeat this challenge is to get to market first and don't put all your business on the street.
 
JB Cases said:
My advice:

Get commitments based on what you bring to the table. Loyalty goes farther than inexperience if you get to market first.

So you sell your EXPERIENCE -

Since the other company has a "tarnished" reputation coupled with inexperience then they shouldn't be able to beat you in the market unless they are bringing something to the table like more money. But I doubt that they are going to be adding money or funding this tour or they would just do it already.
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John, as you know, the billiard industry at this level is a small market and you are correct. As expected, I heard about this immediately and the people that they approached came directly to me to ask if they (The Offenders) were working for me.

Because I have been pounding on doors for quite some time, almost everyone in our industry knows this is my concept. Because of my diligence in this I am pretty sure it hurt the offenders reputation and possibly business even more than it was in the past. In fact, I am positive it has.

John, the only reason I am putting this "On The Street" is so the readers will know when they see this idea from another entity, as I am sure they will. They know exactly what to expect from the other party and can protect themselves from getting scammed.
 
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Does this business start with the letters IPT?

Otherwise known as the Magical Mystery Tour?

Sorry Mike I couldn't help it!
 
JB Cases said:
My advice:

Get committments based on what you bring to the table. Loyalty goes farther than inexperience if you get to market first.

So you sell your EXPERIENCE -

Since the other company has a "tarnished" reputation coupled with inexperience then they shouldn't be able to beat you in the market unless they are bringing something to the table like more money. But I doubt that they are going to be adding money or funding this tour or they would just do it already.

The other thing is..... if you don't want people to speculate then don't put something like this on the street. It's natural that people will want to guess at who this is.

This is what I want to see in the short term: Mike Janis and Mark Griffin combine forces to start this. Then long term I'd like to see the APA and the VNEA and TAP and so on come on board with their members to provide a huge base.

Ideas are not copyrightable. You can patent a system though. However you should know that such patents are realtively easy to defeat when they center around a business method.

The best way to defeat this challenge is to get to market first and don't put all your business on the street.
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John,your right,loyalty does go a long way IMO. ;)
 
MikeJanis said:
...John, the only reason I am putting this "On The Street" is so the readers will know when they see this idea from another entity, as I am sure they will. They know exactly what to expect from the other party and can protect themselves from getting scammed.
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Just from what has already been posted, my head is swimming and I have no clue what you are talking about, so I wouldn't count on anyone knowing what to expect or how to avoid the scam. Maybe I'm too tired to digest the info posted, but it's just not making a lot of sense to me without all the details.

If you don't know the purple horse will chew off your legs, you might think he's pretty and go over to pet him. (In other words, this thread is not clear enough to identify the dangers.)

Good luck with your situation.
 
JB Cases said:
Does this business start with the letters IPT?

Otherwise known as the Magical Mystery Tour?

Sorry Mike I couldn't help it!
Click to expand...

NO. And I ain't tell'in who either. I am positive you will hear about it through your association with Sterling as I am sure they will be approached by the CopyCat. ;)



PS.. John, My highest respect goes out to Sterling for their vast participation and support of the coming GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Championships. GREAT JOB ! :)
 
MikeJanis said:
PLEASE DO NOT SPECULATE AS TO WHO THEY MAY BE.
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OK, I won't SPECULATE, but I'd like to take a few guesses. Is it:
Bucktooth
WWE
JimBo
Democratic Party
China
Eddie Wheat
Illegal Immigrants
UPA


Doug
( I hope it's not who I'm thinking of.................PM me )


*Just tell me if the right answer is on my list of guesses.
 
Smorgass Bored said:
OK, I won't SPECULATE, but I'd like to take a few guesses. Is it:
Bucktooth
WWE
JimBo
Democratic Party
China
Eddie Wheat
Illegal Immigrants
UPA


Doug
( I hope it's not who I'm thinking of.................PM me )


*Just tell me if the right answer is on my list of guesses.
Click to expand...

With the words "tarnished reputation," it is pretty easy to narrow it down as to who the offending party may be. :p

In the words of a wise and seasoned poster, "Big fish eat little fish." ;)

JAM
 
what about patenting intellectual property?

from wikipedia...

Intellectual property is a bundle of exclusive rights over creations of the mind, both artistic and commercial. The former is covered by copyright laws, which protect creative works such as books, movies, music, paintings, photographs, and software and gives the copyright holder exclusive right to control reproduction or adaptation of such works for a certain period of time.[1]

The second category is collectively known as "industrial properties", as they are typically created and used for industrial or commercial purposes. A patent may be granted for a new, useful, and non-obvious invention, and gives the patent holder a right to prevent others from practicing the invention without a license from the inventor for a certain period of time. A trademark is a distinctive sign which is used to prevent confusion among products in the marketplace.

An industrial design right protects the form of appearance, style or design of an industrial object from infringement. A trade secret is non-public information concerning the commercial practices or proprietary knowledge of a business. Public disclosure of trade secrets may sometimes be illegal.

The term "intellectual property" denotes the specific legal rights described above, and not the intellectual work itself.

?Gerry
 
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