Hi Anthony!
I don’t know whether the idea you referred to was “stolen” before or after you published.
Another member had her entire published post copied and published by someone else on their site (not a WA member).
If it was only an idea and was unpublished then there is no reason you shouldn’t continue on and write it to make it your own. We all have competition so don’t let that stop you.
You are an original!
KyleAnn

My immediate thoughts are, how much did you share while in the stages of implementation? I mean, unless it is a business partner where you both would benefit from the EQUAL hard work, why would you put that idea out there? My second thought is, yes, that really sucks!! And finally, I would gather up all those things you worked so diligently on for the last months, hopefully all time and date stamped, and show them to the powers that be. I'm sorry this happened to you. You've taught me a valuable lesson, even being new at WA...don't share anything with anybody and let the chips fall where they may and then it is on only you if you fail or succeed. ~Liz*

Monkey see, monkey do, it's in our instinct. It's quite flattering when people are trying to imitate you, and a great way to learn. We do that starting from birth. However, when they copy your idea in exactly the same form it's a theft. And I would report this to Kyle and Carson.

I do not see much point in losing sleep over something like this unless they have actually copied what you have already posted, printed or displayed in some manner.

But using your idea before you is basically your bad luck, however there is absolutely no reason that you can't continue. Make your product the better product, better value, better all round.

You can do it, get on with it!

The thing about us humans is that we are walking idea factories and that in its self can be a problem in its self, there is always someone else thinking the same thing.

The trouble is some folks can beat us to the draw.

The really good thing about ideas is the more we think and do the more the ideas seem to flow.

It can be hard in an employment situation when someone is coat tailing off of your hard work, sometimes we just need to work smarter, like super smarter.

In the business world getting to the starting line after the race has started already, can actually be a real blessing in disguise.

That time can work in your favor, nothing in business goes according to plan it is almost a universal law.

So definitely don't let it go, just reinvent, tweak it and add some more value, it can work a treat.

Just some thoughts Antony,

Words and ideas are a dime a dozen...and people are often "inspired" to copy and swipe or better still, be transformed and inspired in the proper ways.

I recommend moving on and keep doing good works, focus on your clients/readers/audience =)

At least it is a sign of a good idea...

From a legal standpoint, you can’t do much if they’ve reworded it. Ideas are not Copyright protected, only words.

If they use your exact words, then you have some options. First thing to do is serve a DMCA takedown notice to the offending blog, their host, and possibly email platform if applicable.

Copyright infringement, words not ideas, is a big deal! I learned this the hard way - my business partner unbeknownst to me stole the exact email sequence for webinars from our main competitor, not once, twice! We’re now in the midst of a lawsuit and I’ve left that partner and everything I honestly slaved over to build, to start over myself.

I guess there is nothing much I can do about it. yes it sucks.
even on youtube, people copying each other.

I move on and come up with another great idea and keep moving forward