Liu Yan, Just throwing this out there but maybe one way to do it is to encourage copying and request some conditions from those who do copy.
One example is TED: they have given away their brand but ask that folks follow the rules for TEDx events in exchange. Maybe you could do something similar? Offer some design guidelines and branding but ask that folks follow a few simple rules. I don't know how Chinese culture would respond to something like this, but given that you're working in a pretty new design domain likely to be explored by other forward-thinking individuals like yourself, it seems to me that has the best shot at success. Certainly it seems to me the best thing would be to reach out in a spirit of cooperation as early as possible, and if you've got any reason to go to Beijing, meet them face to face to discuss. Best, Dave On Feb 1, 2011, at 10:56 AM, Liu Yan wrote: > Alex, thank you for your suggestion. We are aware of the core > competency of the business we are in and we are confident that is > something that cannot be copied easily. > > I think my message isn't clearly understood. We are not worried about > the copycats, nor feel any threat, actually the clone has copied the > content we had last year, our strategy is pretty much altered right > now. Instead, I am happy someone is taking the initiative to start the > second coworking in China and become our first follower. I am sure > there will be more followers like him in the coming year, who will > appreciate the concept of coworking and join/support the coworking > community. > > The question really is, how do we regulate the level of copying and > turn it into an open learning to make everyone benefit from making the > coworking pie bigger, together? > > > > 在 2011年2月1日 下午11:37，Alex Hillman <[email protected]> 写道： >> Whatever makes you comfortable. >> It's my understanding that cloning is a fairly common element of Asian >> culture (Dave Troy can speak to this much better than I can) so the best >> thing you can do is draw boundaries for what elements of the "clone" are >> acceptable to your level of comfort. That's really all you can or should >> worry about defending. >> Outside of your brand and your language being lifted, consider that copycats >> are almost always less effective than their original. Take this as an >> opportunity to introspect and figure out what makes your community special - >> and focus on lifting that above. At that point, you can rebrand or re-design >> all you want. >> Focus on what they can't copy, if you find that you can't stop them from >> copying. >> -Alex >> >> /ah >> indyhall.org >> coworking in philadelphia >> >> >> 2011/2/1 Liu Yan <[email protected]> >>> >>> Coworking isn't a big money-making business. I believe the person who >>> started the coworking in Beijing has no intention to make quick money >>> and huge profit. So it really doesn't make any sense to consult a >>> lawyer to sue him. To be honest, we can't even afford it. >>> >>> I believe there is a dialogue needed between us and the clone. We want >>> to let him know that we don't hate our competition and we want to find >>> a way to collaborate if we share values in common. However, it is >>> necessary to have a few guidelines in mind for people like him who >>> sees the value in our model and content and want to use it. So my >>> questions really are: what should be those guidelines? >>> >>> Thank you in advance! >>> >>> >>> 在 2011年2月1日 下午9:05，Michael <[email protected]> 写道： >>>> If you have made your "model and content on the website is at this >>>> moment pretty much open sourced and licensed under Creative Commons" >>>> then i am pretty sure they can't legally copyright it right? This may >>>> be the wrong place to be asking though because copyright in China is >>>> definitely different to the rest of the world! Why not consult a >>>> lawyer, otherwise just don't worry about it. >>>> >>>> On Feb 1, 7:08 pm, Liu Yan <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> Hi there, >>>>> >>>>>>> Recently we found out that someone in Beijing has used the text of >>>>>>> our website both in Chinese and English, design and slogan literally >>>>>>> word >>>>>>> for word in his website. We are happy that there is another(second) >>>>>>> coworking space being established in China and they like our model. But >>>>>>> at >>>>>>> the same time, we think it should be a way to regulate this kind of >>>>>>> "sharing". >>>>> >>>>>>> For example, Our model and content on the website is at this moment >>>>>>> pretty much open sourced and licensed under Creative Commons, but the >>>>>>> people >>>>>>> who copied and pasted our content put everything under their own >>>>>>> copyright. >>>>>>> Meanwhile, we are worried that this kind of clone or look-alike effect >>>>>>> might >>>>>>> put our branding and reputation under risk. >>>>> >>>>>>> Any idea how to cope with this? >>>>> >>>>>>> Liu Yan 刘妍 >>>>>>> CEO/Co-founder >>>>>>> Xindanwei 新单位 >>>>>>> (+86) 021 3428 0783 >>>>>>> (+86) 135 2429 5509 >>>>>>> 50 Yongjia Rd, Shanghai,CHINA >>>>>>> 中国上海徐汇区永嘉路50号 >>>>>>> http://xindanwei.com >>>>>>> https://gist.com/theliuyan >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Coworking" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Liu Yan 刘妍 >>> CEO/Co-founder >>> Xindanwei 新单位 >>> (+86) 021 3428 0783 >>> 50 Yongjia Rd, Shanghai,CHINA >>> 中国上海徐汇区永嘉路50号 >>> http://xindanwei.com >>> https://gist.com/theliuyan >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Coworking" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Coworking" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. >> > > > > -- > Liu Yan 刘妍 > CEO/Co-founder > Xindanwei 新单位 > (+86) 021 3428 0783 > 50 Yongjia Rd, Shanghai,CHINA > 中国上海徐汇区永嘉路50号 > http://xindanwei.com > https://gist.com/theliuyan > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
