Ask HN: Someone is trying to clone my site - what do I do? • Hacker News Board

Hey, the OP probably has the actual code as well. If you really want to be sneaky, you could install a little back-door just in case things get serious.

Re: Ask HN: Someone is trying to clone my site - what do I do?

#5

Post by jreposa » Sun, May 17, 2009, 1:42 AM UTC

zaidf wrote: post #3

Be flattered! If your site can be cloned, launched AND cause a serious dent in your business, you need to think of better ideas.

I think that's the angle we're going to take. It just came as a bit of a shock when I first saw it.

Thanks for the great response!

Re: Ask HN: Someone is trying to clone my site - what do I do?

#6

Post by jreposa » Sun, May 17, 2009, 1:43 AM UTC

f1lt3r wrote: post #2

You bid on the job. Eh? ;)

Ha. Right... Not for $75. That's the lowest bid so far ;)

Re: Ask HN: Someone is trying to clone my site - what do I do?

#7

Post by andreshb » Sun, May 17, 2009, 2:44 AM UTC

I wouldn't be worried. Cloning websites never goes as well as the poster of the RFP. The poster will be playing catchup without differentiation. You have an advantage, just keep innovating and developing it. Even if there is a really good developer that can clone it, it will be hard for them to clone, catch up and surpass.

Re: Ask HN: Someone is trying to clone my site - what do I do?

#8

Post by lsemel » Sun, May 17, 2009, 4:10 AM UTC

Almost inevitably, shortly after I launch something that proves reasonably popular, I see an ad for someone wanting to clone it on Scriptlance for $200.

Re: Ask HN: Someone is trying to clone my site - what do I do?

#9

Post by [deleted] » Sun, May 17, 2009, 4:14 AM UTC

lsemel wrote: post #8

Almost inevitably, shortly after I launch something that proves reasonably popular, I see an ad for someone wanting to clone it on Scriptlance for $200.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Someone is trying to clone my site - what do I do?

#10

Post by pg » Sun, May 17, 2009, 4:17 AM UTC

Viaweb got copied a lot, and now YC does. I've learned not to worry about it. Clones rarely amount to anything. First of all, anyone who has to copy you is probably not that good. Someone really good wouldn't be able to copy someone else, even if it was to their advantage; they'd be too proud to. Second, people can only copy what's visible. They can't copy the half of the project that's in your head, and that is probably the more valuable half.