What Do I Do When My Product Gets Copied

A Factsheet from

It’s your design, your idea, and now someone else is profiting from it.

You spent months designing that label,  perfecting that slogan or creating that service model your customers love. Then suddenly you see it on someone else’s website or online retailer’s platform or on social media.

It’s not a coincidence. It’s a copy.

For small business owners, being copied feels personal. It’s theft but the law isn’t always simple.

Know what you can protect—and how.

In the UK, your intellectual property (IP) includes:

• Names, logos, slogans  which can be protected by trademark
• Written, artistic, and musical content which is automatically protected by copyright
• Designs and product appearance which are protected by design rights
• Inventions, processes which are protected by patents

✅ Learn more:
Intellectual Property – GOV.UK

You don’t have to register everything, but understanding what applies helps you decide what’s worth protecting.

Keep evidence.

If your work is copied, you’ll need to prove:

• You created it first
• It was original
• Whoever copied it had access to it (e.g. they follow you, bought from you, etc.)

Save drafts, dated sketches, emails, anything that shows your process.

Contact the copier.

Start with a polite message:

“I’ve noticed you’re using artwork/text/designs that are very similar to mine. I’d appreciate it if you could take this down or adjust accordingly.”

Keep records of communication. Often, a firm but fair message is enough to prompt removal.

Use platform complaints.

If someone copies you on Etsy, Instagram, Facebook or Amazon, report them. Most platforms have copyright or IP policies.

✅ Examples:

• Instagram Copyright Info
• Etsy IP Policy
• Amazon Brand Registry

Get advice before going legal.

Taking someone to court is time-consuming, expensive, and stressful. But in some cases, especially with repeat or large-scale copying, it might be the only option. However it should be the last resort and even then going ahead may not be a good choice for you and your business.

Start by speaking to:

• IP & Copyright Advice – IPO
• ACID – Anti Copying in Design – practical support for creatives

Focus on staying ahead.

Sadly small businesses get copied a lot. What makes you special isn’t just your product, it’s your brand, service and story. Keep evolving. Keep improving. Copiers rarely keep up.

Share your values.

If someone’s copied your work and you feel stuck, share your story (professionally) with your audience. Many loyal customers will back the original, not the imitation.

You can’t always stop being copied. But you can build a brand strong enough that no one can fake your authenticity.

Register at http://www.business111.com for more factsheets By Liz Barclay