Wanna hear something incredible? Odysseus the TV Spokesmodel Bloodhound, unbeknownst to anyone, has been serving as the Spokesmodel for an internet vendor’s site. Involuntarily. Without compensation. Without permission.
Forgive me for the following enormous image:
Who doesn’t love those eyes staring out at you, looking for you through the mail slot. But what you are seeing are BloodhoundBlog, Pittsburgh Homes Daily and Mike’s Corner, all pimping for the “free” weblogs offered by Incredible Agent.
Incredible chutzpah, in any case. I’m sure they would want to argue that they are using these three weblogs to illustrate the idea of a real estate weblog. Why wouldn’t they use some of their own weblogs as illustrations? You answer that one. What matters is that they cannot use the work product — and likenesses! — of the contributors to BloodhoundBlog to sell their product without our permission.
We have asked them to cease and desist, informing the other offended parties.
I am told — I have not checked myself — that their “free” weblogs are not even free weblogs in the sense that you can get a free weblog from Blogger.com or WordPress.com — sign up and you’re on your way. Instead, the Incredible Agent “free” weblog offer seems to be a lead gathering form. I don’t care. I cannot imagine a worse way to advertise their business that inciting three prominent real estate webloggers to publicly express our anger at their sleazy sales tactics.
Smart…
Technorati Tags: blogging, real estate, real estate marketing
Jeff Brown says:
This stuff used to surprise me, but alas, no more. They need to be spanked publicly as they knew exactly what they were doing.
I assume they’re cooperating?
January 23, 2007 — 5:01 pm
Michael Price says:
Greg,
Please don’t take any offense to my response here. One of the things I have respected about you is your ability to accept commentary and opposing opinions. I’ve even seen you change your hard line stance on a couple of things. I think that represents good character. I am not saying you should do so in this instance, that is your decision alone, however, as I said in my e-mail to everyone involved. I really don’t think the intent was to mislead anyone. I have asked Damon to place a disclaimer on the page that they are just points of reference and that the participants do not endorse the product. If that is placed on the site, I don’t really have an issue with it. I’ll give him some time to do that before I rush to any conclusions about the product or the people behind it.
I’ve been involved with web content when the average person would have looked at you cross-eyed when you mentioned the words “world wide web”, (1995 to be exact). Since then I have been involved in many instances of stolen content, some requiring legal action. That said, there were many instances where the offender meant no harm. I think that’s the case here. If I am wrong, I don’t think I’ll have lost enough face between now and the time it takes to rectify it after cooler heads prevail. If that’s the case I’ll be the first to admit that being a nice guy sometimes doesn’t pay. We’ll see.
January 23, 2007 — 5:16 pm
Greg Swann says:
You’re a much more phlegmatic man than I am, Mike. I see it as Incredible Agent trying to borrow our hard work an credibility to endorse their product without our knowledge or permission.
Our stuff is already off, in any case. Your site and PHD are still there.
My best to you, in any case.
January 23, 2007 — 5:29 pm
Michael Price says:
I had a pretty good idea of the definition of phlegmatic. I thought I would post the Webster’s definition here 🙂
phleg?mat?ic [fleg-mat-ik]
-adjective
1. not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish.
2. self-possessed, calm, or composed.
3. of the nature of or abounding in the humor phlegm.
For what it’s worth, I resemble the latter of the second, none of the rest. Thanks for the compliment.
Damon’s disclaimer is up and I’ll just leave it at that .
January 23, 2007 — 6:17 pm
Brian Brady says:
Well, Odysseues is gone. Apparently, they really do READ Bloodhound over at Incredible Agent
January 23, 2007 — 6:37 pm
Incredible Agent says:
Greg,
As I said in my email to all involved, I posted your blog because I am a reader and I believe you have good thing going. I believe all agents should have a blog like yours and it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to do so like our competitors.
Immediately after recieving your email I took your image and link down.
To be honest, most people don’t have a problem with ther people linking to their website. I don’t quite understand why you reacted this way, however I hope I’ve taken care of everything up to your standards.
In regards to your comments on what we’re offering, we are not simply offering a quick 1 step process to start blogging. We are offering a stand alone website that allows agents to get started with their blog website. Some agents don’t want to put $3,000 down for 6 months worth of blogging. So we offer it for free as only 1 part of our service.
Believe me if I want to setup WordPress MU on our site, I could…but I want to prove to our clients that we’re serious about helping agents become successful with the Internet.
Anyways, since we’re both agents in Phoenix, I would like to offer to buy you lunch anywhere in town. It will give us a chance to actually meet each other and for me to apologize for whatever wrong doing face to face.
All the best,
Damon Pace
CEO – Incredible Agent
January 23, 2007 — 8:01 pm
Brad Nix says:
This is an interesting spat with good points and counterpoints on both sides. I suddenly find myself in suspense over what will happen next?
Is this the season finale of “Desperate Bloodhounds” that I must wait until fall to find out if he goes to lunch or not…if they shake hands…or duke it out?
But seriously, I am subscribing for follow-ups on this one!
January 23, 2007 — 8:55 pm
Spencer Barron says:
I thought incredibleagent.com started out as some sort of agent rating system? oh well.
Looks like they took off Bloodhoundblog as a ‘good example’ of the web design that would be similar if they were to design a blog template. It doesn’t feel right does it. They have a Pittsburg blog as an example that is using the popular “Cutline” Theme that Chris Pearson designed. It sure doesn’t seem right that you could use someone else’s design as an example of your potential work.
January 23, 2007 — 9:53 pm
Marty Van Diest says:
I think links to your site as a good example of how to do some type of work would have been acceptable. It does make me uncomfortable to see your sites actually on theirs.
January 24, 2007 — 12:32 am
Norm Fisher says:
Not cool.
C’mon guys. Whether it was intentional or not, this website is misleading.
“…we offer great looking blog templates…see some blog examples below.”
Without the disclaimer, it’s actually misleading even if the blog owner had granted permission.
January 24, 2007 — 7:14 am
Greg Swann says:
> Immediately after recieving your email I took your image and link down.
Thank you for removing our content.
> To be honest, most people don’t have a problem with ther people linking to their website. I don’t quite understand why you reacted this way
Because you were using our work product and our likenesses to sell a commercial product. It doesn’t matter that you thought you were citing us as an example or paying us a compliment. What matters is that your use of our intellectual and personal property in this way served as a de facto endorsement of your products, if not, implicitly, as examples of your own work product.
Surely you understand that I do not have the legal right to use Kris Berg’s likeness for commercial purposes. What would ever lead you to conclude that you have the right to use her likeness for commercial purposes?
If this really is a new idea to you, phone your attorney at once.
January 24, 2007 — 10:23 am
David Saks says:
I enjoyed Damon’s sweet letter, Greg. Imbibe, lunch, sup by all means in the spirit of brotherly blogging. Have a beer !
To wit:
I think that I shall never hear
A poem lovelier than beer.
The icy brew that’s on Joe’s Tap
With Snowy Falls and Ice cold cap.
The creamy stuff I drink all day
Until my memory melts away.
Poems are made for fools, I fear,
But to Greg and Damon, I lift my beer.
HoooHah !
Please get the check, Damon….
January 24, 2007 — 2:11 pm
Greg Swann says:
> I think that I shall never hear
> A poem lovelier than beer.
Cathy, this has my vote for this week’s Carnival of BloodhoundBlog.
January 24, 2007 — 2:14 pm
David Saks says:
Thanks, Greg…
Hope your having a great day…
-David-
January 24, 2007 — 2:44 pm
David Saks says:
BTW Greg,-
I passed the brokers national and state exam last Wednesady for Tennessee. “There’s gold in them thar hills of Tennessee…”
Now I can really be an Incredible Agent…
January 24, 2007 — 2:52 pm
Greg Swann says:
> I passed the brokers national and state exam last Wednesady for Tennessee.
Excellent! Now find yourself some innocent salespeople and exploit them viciously.
January 24, 2007 — 4:27 pm
Jeff Brown says:
Greg –
> I think that I shall never hear
> A poem lovelier than beer.
Cathy, this has my vote for this week’s Carnival of BloodhoundBlog.
Now you’re just making fun of me. 🙂
Carnival winner indeed.
January 24, 2007 — 4:30 pm
Danilo Bogdnaovic says:
Did someone say beer?! That’ll get my vote every time!
And what a poor (and BS) explanation as to their use of BHB’s likeness. Come on now folks, you really think we’re that stupid?
Guess some people weren’t taught the definition of “ask”. Let’s all be grateful that they’re not cops – they’d shoot first and ask questions later.
January 24, 2007 — 7:05 pm
Michael Price says:
I think it’s time to stop piling on and end this thread. I sent Damon an e-mail suggesting ways in which he could deliver his message without any confusion as to the owner of any IP. I think He has done admirable job of it.
Here is the new content Damon has developed:
http://www.incredibleagent.com/services/blogs.php
As for the beer. I’ll buy the first round!
MP
January 25, 2007 — 11:01 am
Athol Kay says:
Isn’t the beer poem copyright of “The Simpsons”?
January 26, 2007 — 2:52 pm
Patty says:
Wow, I am just an outsider looking in (a newly licensed sales agent). Very interesting topic. I am a little surprised that it even happened. To think that “organizations or companies such as incredibleagent.com” don’t have an internet protocol in place as of yet, and a standard disclaimer. Most businesses I have worked at even have the disclaimer applied to the employee email signature (if it applys some how to that profession). The internet laws are not well established yet, but wooow when they do… be prepared.
September 10, 2008 — 1:14 pm