How to deal with copycats as a creative business owner
If you run a handmade or creative business and recently discovered that someone copied your work, this post is for you.
Being copied online can feel frustrating, unfair, and deeply personal. Whether it’s a pattern, a tutorial, or a product idea, seeing someone else benefit from your work can make you question if sharing your creativity publicly is even worth it. The good news is: you’re not alone, and there are ways to deal with copycats without burning out or losing your motivation to create.
My experience with copycats as a pattern designer
I have always been copied. On YouTube, on Etsy, and across social media.
The end user usually doesn’t care whether a pattern is a copy or an original. They simply want to make something and need instructions that are easy to follow.
Because of that, countless YouTube channels and social media accounts are built entirely on copying other creators — sometimes by recreating tutorials, other times by publishing video tutorials based on patterns from books or independent designers. I’ve seen this happen repeatedly with patterns taken from well-known macrame books, which are often used as the basis for uncredited video tutorials.
To defend myself, I started my own YouTube channel. The channel grew quickly and is doing quite well. However, I soon noticed a new pattern: every time I published a new video, it was almost immediately copied and re-uploaded on other channels.
At some point, I realized that constantly monitoring and reporting copied content was draining my energy. Instead, I introduced a paid YouTube membership, where my most valuable tutorials are shared with a committed audience. This step largely solved the problem — not because copying disappeared completely, but because it became less profitable and less attractive for copycats.
What actually works when your work is copied
If you’re dealing with something similar, here’s what really matters.
When someone copies your creative work, the solution isn’t always legal action or confrontation. In many cases, the most effective response is changing how you share your content and how your business is structured.
Copycats usually look for:
easy access
free content
minimal effort
Once copying requires more effort or investment, many of them simply move on.
The key shift is this: instead of trying to control what others do, focus on building a system that rewards originality and protects your energy.
What to do when someone copies your work
If you discover that your pattern, tutorial, or content has been copied, start here:
1. Pause before reacting
Not every case of copying requires action. Take a moment to assess whether this is truly harming your business or simply triggering an emotional response.
2. Decide if it’s inspiration or theft
Ask yourself:
Is the content clearly derived from your work?
Is it competing directly with your product?
Is your name or credit missing?
This helps you decide whether it’s worth pursuing.
3. Choose your response level
You have options:
do nothing and move on
contact the creator directly
report the content through the platform
use formal takedown tools if necessary
There is no single “correct” response — only what makes sense for your business and mental health.
🚩 How to protect your creative business long-term
Instead of constantly reacting to copycats, focus on long-term protection strategies:
Build a strong personal brand
People don’t just follow patterns or tutorials — they follow creators. Your story, voice, and style cannot be copied as easily as a single design.
Create content with layers
Offer some value publicly, but keep your most in-depth knowledge, support, or advanced tutorials behind a paywall, membership, or product.
Diversify your platforms
Relying on a single platform makes you more vulnerable. A mix of website, email list, and social media gives you more control.
Accept that some copying is inevitable
This is the hardest part. Copying doesn’t mean your work isn’t valuable — often it means the opposite. The goal is not to eliminate copycats completely, but to build a business that thrives despite them.
Final thoughts
Being copied as a creative business owner is painful, but it doesn’t have to stop you from creating or sharing your work.
With the right boundaries, systems, and mindset, you can protect your creativity while continuing to grow your brand on your own terms. Focus on what you can control — your skills, your voice, and the way you choose to share your work — and let the rest fade into the background.
View PDF tutorials by EwiMacrame on Etsy | Seasonal Inspiration
