I’ve “copied” an idea. Can I claim it as my own?

Dear Aunty B,

I have been quite successful setting up a business based on an idea from overseas. The original idea would never have worked in Australia so I adapted it a lot, including different design and logo.

However, the fact that I “copied” it continues to dig at me, even though I have never had any threats or heard anything at all from the original owners. Should I stand proud and admit that I took the original idea and changed it? Or should I take a different approach and tell people it is my idea? Which in a way it was?

We are starting to get some traction on the marketplace and after all my hard work I am sick of seeing people describe what I have created as copying.

ER,
Victoria

Dear ER,

“Show me an original idea and I will show you its genesis.” I would like to provide you with the name of the famous person who came up with that great quote but it was actually my good self. And just then. On the spot. Not bad for a Monday. My point being that all ideas come from somewhere.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not wandering down the anti copyright path, being a big supporter of suing the pants off any bastard that rips off our stuff. But if I were you I would stand proud and state the facts. You saw an idea, realised it wouldn’t work here so you changed and adapted it considerably and now you have a great new creation.

Remember Nudie Juice, that great irreverent brand, that got bought out by a bunch of VCs and lost all its street cred? Tim Pethick, the founder of Nudie was always the first to admit that Nudie was copied from an idea overseas. “I have no trouble copying good ideas, I think that’s clever and even more so if you do it better,” he says.

Now I always thought he should have toned down the copying thing because he did add a lot of his own branding and style to his products. So if I were you I would play up the part of the idea NOT working. However, it certainly got you thinking and from that came… your success!

Be smart,
Your Aunty B

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