One of the conversations we’ve had several times recently within the ENL Collective has been about copying, and I have to say, it is one of the hardest conversations to have.

When you build a business, you don’t just create a product or a website. You pour your heart into it. You spend months, sometimes years, developing ideas, refining products, choosing colours, writing your website, taking photographs, building a brand and finding your own voice. It represents so much more than something you sell – it represents you.

So when you discover that somebody has copied your work, it can feel incredibly personal.

It might be an artist who finds their paintings reproduced without permission. It could be a jewellery designer who sees an almost identical collection appear elsewhere. Perhaps someone has copied your product, your packaging, your logo or even lifted whole paragraphs from your website. Sadly, with everything now living online, it has become easier than ever for people to copy the work of others.

Years ago, somebody said to me that “copying is the greatest compliment.” Whilst I understand what they meant, I’m not convinced that’s always true in business. Admiring somebody’s work is one thing. Reproducing it, benefiting financially from it or passing it off as your own is something completely different.

Recently, one of our ENL Collective members found themselves in exactly this position. It was upsetting, confusing and quite overwhelming. None of us are lawyers, and when something like this happens it is often difficult to know where to start. Do you contact the person? Do you post about it publicly? Do you ignore it? Do you seek legal advice?

It reminded me why I believe so strongly in community.

One of the things I love most about the ENL Collective is that these conversations stay within the room. Members are able to ask confidential questions, share experiences and learn from one another. Someone may have dealt with a similar issue before. Another member may know an excellent intellectual property solicitor. Somebody else may simply say, “That happened to me too.” Sometimes that reassurance is exactly what you need before deciding on the next step.

The reality is that intellectual property is becoming increasingly important for every business, not just artists and designers. If you have written your own website, taken your own photographs, created original artwork, designed products or built a recognisable brand, then your creativity has value. Protecting that creativity is part of protecting your business.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to register copyright in the UK. In fact, you don’t. Copyright usually exists automatically as soon as an original piece of work has been created and recorded. That includes artwork, illustrations, photographs, written articles, blogs, website copy, videos and many other forms of creative work. There is no official UK copyright register and you don’t need to pay a fee for copyright protection. (⁠GOV.UK)

However, copyright is only one part of intellectual property. The design of a product may be protected by design rights, whilst your business name or logo may be protected by a registered trade mark. If you have created something particularly valuable, it is worth taking advice about whether additional protection is appropriate. (⁠GOV.UK)

One lesson I have learnt over the years is that keeping good records is incredibly important. Save your original sketches, photographs, design files and early drafts. Keep emails showing how ideas developed. Store previous versions of your website and keep invoices or dated photographs of products as they evolve. Hopefully you’ll never need any of it, but if somebody does copy your work, having evidence showing when you created something can make a huge difference.

If you ever discover that someone has copied your work, my advice would be not to react immediately. I know that’s easier said than done, particularly when emotions are running high, but take a breath first. Gather your evidence. Take screenshots. Save links. Record dates. Keep copies of your original work. Once something is removed from the internet, it can become much harder to prove what happened.

It is also worth checking whether the person has genuinely copied your work or whether there has been a misunderstanding. Occasionally businesses unknowingly use images they don’t have permission to use, or a freelance designer may have supplied material they didn’t actually own. In other cases, unfortunately, the copying is deliberate.

A polite but professional email is often the best place to start. Explain what has been copied, provide the evidence and ask for the material to be removed. Many situations can be resolved at this stage. If they cannot, or if the copying is causing financial damage to your business, then it is time to seek advice from an intellectual property solicitor. They can advise whether a formal cease-and-desist letter or further legal action is appropriate. (⁠GOV.UK)

There is another side to this conversation that I think is just as important.  Don’t let it stop you creating.

The most successful businesses I know never stand still. They continue to innovate, improve and move forward. Someone may copy one product, one photograph or one page of your website, but they cannot copy your passion, your relationships, your experience or your ability to keep coming up with new ideas.

Perhaps that’s the biggest lesson of all.

Protect your work. Understand your rights. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. But don’t spend so much time looking over your shoulder that you stop looking ahead.

That is one of the reasons I care so deeply about the ENL Collective. It isn’t just about introductions or opportunities. It’s about having trusted people around you who genuinely want to see you succeed, who will celebrate your wins, support you through the challenges and sometimes spot things that you haven’t seen yourself.

Business can be lonely. It doesn’t have to be. That is why we are here …

Please note: This article is intended as general guidance only and should not be taken as legal advice. If you believe your intellectual property has been infringed, seek advice from a qualified intellectual property solicitor or the UK Intellectual Property Office. (⁠GOV.UK)