Posted by JanetK_CA on 2/18/10 3:43pm
Msg #323388

Plagiarized Profile - no response; what would you do?

OK, so I'm going "public", not that I haven't been posting here for at least six years under the same moniker! (I even put up a picture. Is that un-anonymous enough for everyone? ) This is partly because of the thread below and also partly because I'm still not a happy camper - to put it very mildly - about someone in my area having copied my profile nearly word for word. (I started to make some minor changes in mine, but then decided to change it back to leave the evidence.)

I sent this guy an email on February 1st and have not received any response - nor has he changed one word on his profile. I also emailed the good folks at Notary Rotary and requested that his profile be removed. I did get a response, saying that "the similarities are pretty obvious", and they acknowledged that I've been a Premier Member here since 2004. They are considering my request. (He's been a basic member for "a little over a year" -- and I just noticed this! Grrrrr)

I'd like to know what you all think about what I should consider as next steps if he still doesn't change it. I just sent him another email and said that if he replied advising that he would make material changes within a week (and he followed through on that) that I would not take further action. We'll see if that brings any reply.

One option I've considered, along with contacting one of the several attorneys I know, is calling him out in public every where I can think of... Any other thoughts?

Reply by MW/VA on 2/18/10 3:51pm
Msg #323389

They always say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but we certainly don't see it that way.
This has come up before, and it is a dilemna. It will be interesting to see what the NR staff does about it.
Also, let us know what the attorneys say.
I guess you have to decide if it will hurt your reputation as much as his by calling him out in public.

Reply by Notarysigner on 2/18/10 4:48pm
Msg #323401

Janet K...Sorry you are experiencing this but to be honest, if you look at my profile and date, I can direct you to two others in my area that are saying the same/similar comments even down to my statement, "if you want to get it done correctly...blah, blah..". That being said, first of all it is flattering to be imitated but, if that's you ( your statement about yourself) then that's you. Make sure you uphold your standards and they will have to improvise won't they since they will not have a clue WHO YOU ARE.
I wouldn't do anything. If someone reads your profile and then reads the other one, they will make a choice based on what they feel, not what was said. IMO.
As long as you're available on any given day, do a good job at a agreeable price, your will be contacted repeatedly. I am saying this from my personal experience. They say that it only takes 15 seconds to impress someone initially, make the most of that. Thanks for calling me as an opening statement does wonders for me!

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/18/10 5:04pm
Msg #323406

Hi Janet, sorry this happened to you, I'd send a deamnd

letter first demanding that the offending profile be removed with a specific time limit or you will take additiional actilon to recover your intellectual propertiy and any damages that you may have coming to you. Send it certified mail and see if there is any action withint the specified time limit.

BTW that escrow is still open! What's it been, a year now? Now the bank is saying maybe in another 30 to 60 days thay will have it processed. Go figure.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/18/10 5:47pm
Msg #323411

Re: Hi Janet, sorry this happened to you, I'd send a deamnd

Wow! Good for you all for hanging in there, but I'm sorry it's taken so long. I hope the bank is giving you the straight scoop and that it does close soon! I'll be looking forward to hearing your good news!

Reply by Les_CO on 2/18/10 5:52pm
Msg #323412

Although you didn’t ask.. I think your profile is a bit long…A scheduler working under stress trying to find a NSA near the borrower hasn’t much time to read ‘the extras.’
State your experience (you do) your qualifications (you do) and your guarantees (you do) leave the rest out. JMO…and… forget the ‘other guy.’
We that have been in this business for some time all have similar profiles.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/18/10 6:29pm
Msg #323421

Problem solved.

Just got a reply saying that he didn't get my first email but that he's changed his profile. Sure didn't take long - and he did a nice enough job that I don't know why he couldn't have done that to start with. Oh well. Guess it pays to be persistent.

Reply by Teresa/FL on 2/18/10 6:44pm
Msg #323424

Good for you. I never got a response from the notary who

plaigurized my profile, nor from Notary Rotary after I notified them. She paid for her listing, but it doesn't appear that she has returned to this site since 11/20/09.

I added a short blurb to my profile so others would know I am the original author, not this other person, and have received positive feedback regarding it.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/18/10 6:58pm
Msg #323428

Re: Good for you. I never got a response from the notary who

"so others would know I am the original author"

I thought about that, too. My biggest concern was that someone would think that I copied from him, although I don't think that's too likely. Hopefully your copy cat will eventually get purged if she doesn't update her profile - and if she does, hopefully it will be to something that is original to her!

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/19/10 7:17pm
Msg #323537

Janet...your public profile...

Craziest thing. You look almost EXACTLY as I pictured you! Thanks for linking.