A personal example; I am asked for recipes of things that I post or complete details on how to lose weight. I give basic info, but never detailed, never complete information on my methods. Its not that I don't want to help you, its that the energy you put into your job or business I have put into mine. If its a recipe I used from a site of someone who personally wrote it and had blogged it and decided to share it for free then I will. But outside of that I feel like I took time in developing my methods so that I could prepare my healthy meals to sell and so that I can provide personalized coaching and cooking lessons for a charge. You maybe have your paycheck from your job but this is mine and when I create it and take the time, it is my intellectual property that I have invested my time and money into developing it.
When someone develops intellectual property, say an idea to do something another way, recipes, meal plans, workout routines, music, poetry, stories, theories, methods, and you take it or give it to someone else without permission or when it was purchased only for your use ; Well it would be like if an artist hung a painting in an art gallery and you took it off the wall and ran out with it for free. So why should you not be called a thief?
When I put it like that is not really fair when you think about it is it?
I am sure other business owners completely understand what I am saying and understand how much work is really actually put into our intellectual property. I know locally I see many small business owners cautious to work with anyone else due to people screwing them in the past. I get it. I've seen it! Its a shame we have to spend time and money on lawyers just to protect ourselves, but I realize its just one of those things that have to be done.
I write this so maybe you will think a little more before you hit share. If you are not sure that the material was intended by the original owner to be shared, then don't hit that share button. I myself can say that I hadn't really thought too much about this, not especially in Facebook and Instagram world. But I will start. Lets try to be aware and Respect Intellectual Property. And especially don't be a copy cat in your own business. Individual brain power is so beautiful, try using it sometime. I know personally I would not even want someone else's work to represent my business and my brand, I would feel like a fake. But hey I never copied off tests in grade school either, to me that A wouldn't have felt like mine if I did.
Food for thought.
P.E.A.C.E & Much Luv,
Chels
And Yes I did check on the copyright of this photo! You can share this article however since I did publish it with that intent :)