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Copycat BOIs??

WebSlave

WebSlave

It is what it is, but certainly not what it was.
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Last week I was surfing around on another site and found that the owner had your usual messaging board system, and in it there was a forum called the 'Board of Inquiry'.

Then tonight I followed a link posted on my own BOI, and find yet another message board system has a forum on there entitled the 'Board of Inquiry'.  How many others are there out there that are now using this name for one of their forums?

I thought long and hard about what to name that thing, to try to give it the right tone for what I had intended for it to do, and I guess it just miffs me a bit that people are jumping right on the 'me too' wagon with this.

I've taken all the lumps getting the BOI established and stared down a lot of threatened lawsuits to keep it alive.  To be honest, it would just gripe my butt to hear someone ask about the Board of Inquiry, and have someone respond "Which one?"

I dunno, it just doesn't seem like a very neighborly thing for people to do.

Or am I just feeling tired and acting cranky because it's getting late and I should have gone off to bed long ago?

Opinions?
 
Seems you need a vacation  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

Legally there's little you can do and to stress about it won't accomplish anything either. Put the words "The Original" on the forum title <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> just to make a point of pride.
 
I personally think that's B.S.  I think you should email the website owners and ask them to, "as a neighborly gesture" change the name.  That's like naming you business, and having someone else using the same name because it's a damn good name.  That would piss me off, but I'm not a morning person, so I might be in the same frame of mind as webslave was when this thread started.  
-Lucas Denning
 
Webslave,

I have sent you a pm in reply to the one you sent me regarding this topic. Please read and reply as soon as possible.

For everyone else,

Before you arbitrarily pass judgement on this topic, consider that there are other mitigating circumstances regarding this. The other site is not going by the name "BOI". It has a small reference section with the same name. The owner is a GOOD GUY and is not claiming to be THE BOI. In any way, shape, or form. It is a species and genus specific site. I am a member there and consider the owner to be a friend. The owner says the section is "like the original" and that "the same rules apply". So before you condemn this site and person, wait for all information and updates to be presented.

Have a nice day.   <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
 
Darn!

I wish I had copied the PM I sent you John.

Anyway, there is not going to be any condemnation.  I just think the long term goals of what this BOI I have started needs is participation by as many people as possible.  There is strength in numbers.  If we have a half dozen BOIs scattered all over the internet, what are the chances that someone posting on one of them will post on ALL of them?  Pretty slim, I would say.  So if we have a species specific BOI and someone only knows of that one, where their justifiable complaint against a dealer might be noticed by the people interested in that particular species, what of everyone else whom might be considering a purchase of a different species from this dealer?  Wouldn't they value this input? Yet since they have no interest in the species that the other BOI is specific to, there is no way for them to find out about that info.

How many people would want to have to keep bookmarks on a half dozen BOIs and have to check each and every one of them before they take the plunge and make a purchase from a dealer or breeder?  From the very start, the whole purpose of MY BOI was to provide a centralized location for this sort of information to be available to all interested parties.  Nothing else like it was available, and I believe it was sorely needed.

This is not about competition, as I make my money from my SerpenCo business, so I have no concerns about the possibility of traffic being drawn away.  I do this BOI thing because I think it is the right thing to do.  Truth be known, this is an enormous drain on my time, attention, and efforts.  Not to mention that I am so far in the red over this site that it will be a long time before even one penny goes to the black side of the balance sheet.

I have no real major gripes about duplicate BOIs popping up, but I think people considering doing so really should consider whether this is a help or a hindrance to the industry as a whole.  If someone truly feels that what they are doing is more of a help than not, then more power to them.  I will not say even a word against them because of their decision.

But my real fear might just be this vague gut feeling I have that the duplicate BOIs, while good intentioned, might mean the end of the usefullness of all of them.
 
One thing over looked in this discussion is having to defend yourself on a dozen BOI's. Fortunately I haven't had to do that on this or any other one. But I know some good people that have including the Webslave. Sometimes good people get involved in bad deals and some people just can't be pleased. I don't like the thought of having to keep up with a dozen BOI's to make sure someone isn't trashing my business without giving me the chance to make the deal right. This has happened a number of times on this BOI. IMHO
 
I think you are stressing over something that can't be controlled. If you design something successful (as the original BOI is) people are going to try and emulate it. If you talked to every ownere of a forum called BOI out there and they agreed to change their name, a new one would pop up the next day.  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>
 
~Emulating is one thing..using the same name is another issue.  It is said that imitation is the hightest form of flattery, but it does need it's limitations.  This is comparable to stealing and that is not a compliment.

~If it were up to me, I would take two of the suggestions given.  Add "The Original" to this BOI but still, email the other people involved and request, in a professional way, that they make an adjustment to their site names. (Not that Rich would do it any way but professionally <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>  )

~ Anyone with any scruples would be happy to comply, so if this one gentleman that is being referred to is truly a good guy, then I'm sure he will understand and cooperate.  

~What we really need is a little bit more imagination in this world!! >>chuckle<<  So others would be able to come up with their own ideas for names and not have to swing off the coattails of a success.  

~Ya think?
 
Hey Webslave...
Just put "The original" in the tittle.

I know a couple black lists aka BOI aka what have you...
that got started because the owners of such sites had to deal with the likes of Jesse Underhill etc etc etc

ACTUALLY

I know TWO (2) other Blacklists/"boi" That got started because of Jesse Underhill.  (he must feel special)

but yeah...just put hte original
 
It is late, I am pooped and have been sick as a dog, but I needed a break from resting and stopped by.

As for the BOI name being used elsewhere, I am not sure how that works legally on the internet. Did you copyright the name BOI or Board of Inquiry or both names? Are these your registered trademarks? Are they registered as .com names or anything like that. If so then you probably have some legal standing to get these other folks to stop using what only you would have a right to use. If not, you probably do not have much to stand on.

I do see your point. I would hate to see someone else using my written material, such as the articles that I have posted on my website, as their own writings. No matter how good intentioned that is pretty dammed low, I don't care how nice someone else thinks you are. I have used stuff from other people before but only after getting permission or after stating my reference sources - I pride myself on that. Talk to these other guys and maybe they will stop using your creation - then again bear in mind that one or more of them may actually have come up with that name independently from you.

Good luck
 
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