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6/3/09
10:58
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Spring 2009 £2.75
For planners, organisers and other specialist intermediaries
Warning for web vigilance Exclusive By Mary Ferguson A FURIOUS wedding planner is warning others to be vigilant after discovering her website content had been stolen on three different occasions. Zöe Lingard, who contributes blog entries to the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, decided to test her own site when she was asked to write about website theft. Using the website Copyscape.com, Zöe typed in her URL and the site then searched cyberspace for identikit copies. She was shocked to discover that the words she used to describe her services had been lifted by three different wedding planning companies – one as far away as South Africa. The other two were in Cumbria and Northern Ireland and Zöe claims that one had copied everything word for word, even her graphics. She said: “I was gobsmacked when I discovered my work had been stolen the first time and even slightly humoured by the audacity of it. But by the third discovery I was fuming. It took me a long time to put together the wording on my site and I feel sad
that in a creative industry like wedding planning, there are those who can’t even sit down and design their own words for their websites.” After researching online, Zöe sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter to each company, threatening legal action if they didn’t remove the plagiarised content within three days. Within 48 hours, everything had been taken down but Zöe said that when she contacted the offenders, they pleaded ignorance – blaming it instead on their web design companies. “I’m sure this has happened to other wedding planners, who may not even realise it. At the end of the day it’s theft – and it destroys the good name of the wedding planning industry.” Bernadette Chapman, training director for the UKAWP added: “Recently we successfully sued an Australian company who copied 90 per cent of our website. Now, we check on Copyscape every month and would urge other wedding planners to do the same.” Have you had your website content plagiarised? Contact Mary Ferguson on 01226 734712 or email mf@whpl.net.
Planning company changes hands
Wedding planner Tiffany Grant-Riley chose a 1930’s theme for her own vintage-inspired day. Drawing on experience gained from organising weddings for other people, she arranged for special touches including an ‘old school’ sweet shop selection, bouquet’s tied with lace and a surprise performance by Basement Jaxx. Full story, Page 9
WEDDING planning company Every Detail has changed hands and expanded throughout the UK. After founding the business eight years ago, Barbara Collins has sold to Sandra Nemorin-Noel and found two new franchisees – bringing its number of offices to six. Sandra’s daughter Sabrina is looking after clients in Yorkshire, the north east and Scotland and Kat Hogan has set up a franchise in Cambridge. Because Sabrina is fluent in European languages, the company is now also offering weddings abroad. Sandra said: “Barbara has handed over the business at an exciting stage. We are being realistic in the current economic climate but ultimately it is our aim at Every Detail to expand and become a brand leader – and a name synonymous with the perfect wedding day.” Full story, Page 16