We have a YouTube shadow who, coincidentally, always seems to publish a video\u2014with the same idea we had, sharing the data and insights we researched\u2014a couple of weeks after our video goes live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not the same video. It\u2019s like a bizarro world TubeBuddy video. Right down to the thumbnail that\u2019s typically just different enough from ours to not be a clear infringement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anyone looking at our video and theirs can see they\u2019re clearly ripping us off, but they\u2019re not stealing in any legal sense (note: I\u2019m not a lawyer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what do you do when someone is ripping off your YouTube video ideas?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take a deep breath<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It’s frustrating but cooler heads prevail. Write a nastygram if it makes you feel better but sending it would probably be a mistake (note: I\u2019m not a therapist).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take heart in the fact that they\u2019re following you, which means you\u2019re leading them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t let anyone stealing your YouTube video ideas knock you off course. Your ideas are good enough to steal. While it\u2019s frustrating, it\u2019s also a good sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t acknowledge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best advice is probably the same advice we got for dealing with schoolyard bullies: just ignore them. It may be easier said than done but they\u2019re already stealing your ideas, don\u2019t let them steal your thunder too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may be tempting to call your shadow out but that\u2019ll probably help them more than you. Resist the temptation to jump into their comments or call them out on your channels. You’ll only give your shadow more attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, if a creator with a much larger following is ripping off your ideas, you may have something to gain calling attention to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a judgment call. See the first point (take a deep breath) and decide how to proceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Living well is the best revenge. (note: I\u2019m not George Herbert<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n A great idea is a great idea, but it\u2019s the execution and the optimization that makes all the difference. So make sure your videos are the best they can be so that anyone stealing YouTube video ideas is making a hollow copy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure your videos are better optimized with tools like Keyword Explorer<\/a> and Retention Analyzer<\/a> so you’ll get the traffic, not your shadow. Use TB competitor analysis tools like Videolytics<\/a> to gather intel. Use TB Keyword Explorer,<\/a>View and Copy Tags<\/a> and other<\/a> tools<\/a> to beat them at their own game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good artists borrow; great artists steal (note: I\u2019m not Pablo Picasso<\/a>\u2026 and it\u2019s appropriate that the progenitor of that particular quote is up for debate<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a good idea, people are going to be inspired by it. Like good artists, they\u2019re going to copy it. Some will steal it outright. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Don't](\"https:\/\/www.tubebuddy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/shutterstock_1913217988-1-1024x796.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeat them (figuratively)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Make lemonade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n