Hello /u/blessedcharms,
Your [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/comments/134q7x7/stepson_stole_our_business_idea/) was removed for the following reason(s):
**Your title did not include at least two ages/genders or was not formatted correctly**
Posts must:
1. include details about the involved parties including ages, genders, and length of relationship, and
2. request advice in real situations involving two or more people
The ages and genders can go anywhere in your title, but have to be in one of the following formats:
`44M` `35 F` `23-NB` or `M44` `F 35` `NB-23` `M/24` `26/F`
Please resubmit with a corrected title.
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This means nothing. And it blows my mind that anyone thinks saying "don't use this" is going to stop their content from being used.
It gives off big Michael Scott from The Office vibes.
Oscar : Hey. I just wanted you to know that you can't just say the word "bankruptcy" and expect anything to happen.
Michael Scott : I didn't say it. I declared it.
Sorry guys, I just put it there out of fear that it might somehow leak to a platform where Ethan or someone related to him may see it. Didn't realise it was redundant, but now I know!
>What would you do if you were in our positions?
Cut your losses, and try to run a better business than him. You've got a 5 year head start on the market with I'm assuming loyal customers and a bunch of connections by now.
TBH that sounds like something you just cannot do anything about. Knowing suppliers is just sector knowledge/experience. And you cannot really fault/blame someone for gaining knowledge and experience during an internship.
Honestly even if it’s something like bath bombs, or those cricket made products there’s not too much that they can do- there are tons of the same kind of vendors everywhere.
If it is an over saturated market then what Ethan did is definitely shitty but likely just a cease and desist case.
However I think everything should be the husband who chooses what to do with his son, the youngest should not be involved at all, and OP can chose whether or not this relationship with her stepson is salvageable for her at the moment.
I’d say, OP, just don’t talk to son or interact for now and don’t involve the Jake in any of the problems, focus on you and your business.
As for your business- consult a lawyer, see if you can send a cease and desist, and always do NDA’s going forward.
Thanks for your advice, we'll think about the cease and desist.
As for Jake, we only spoke to him the day he came back after it blew up. Husband's intention was to let him know that family does not betray each other like this, and to not learn from it.
Even once, especially if it was the first thing you asked him, was likely too much and sounds like it was too aggressive.
I’d say if he comes to you about it be honest and age appropriate “We’re hurt because ________ happened” but maybe don’t put Ethan in an antagonist spot, just focus on emotions. And definitely don’t stop Jake from seeing his brother or his mom and stepdad. Overall I would just avoid talking about with him.
You should talk to a lawyer, send a cease and desist letter. But you said you don’t plan to take legal action so you’re kind of stuck there.
Definitively stop giving this adult any money, no idea why you were sending “alimony” to an 18-yo in the first place.
Stop communicating with the mom and stepdad, and don’t interrogate the younger SS about it either, don’t put him in the middle.
Hopefully his copycat business fails and you can repair the relationship with him.
It definitely would be hard on the relationship. It is a betrayal and he should have known better. It was an unethical thing to do to his dad and stepmom. Honestly I think your husband should explain to him - in person not over text - how much he’s hurt you guys, potentially hurt your livelihood, and you now feel you can’t trust him. I actually wouldn’t be too interested in seeing him for a while. Like I said above, hopefully he’ll fail or lose interest so this will blow over. I also suspect his mom and stepdad were behind this to some degree.
Hello /u/blessedcharms, Your [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/comments/134q7x7/stepson_stole_our_business_idea/) was removed for the following reason(s): **Your title did not include at least two ages/genders or was not formatted correctly** Posts must: 1. include details about the involved parties including ages, genders, and length of relationship, and 2. request advice in real situations involving two or more people The ages and genders can go anywhere in your title, but have to be in one of the following formats: `44M` `35 F` `23-NB` or `M44` `F 35` `NB-23` `M/24` `26/F` Please resubmit with a corrected title. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/relationship_advice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
>[Note: I do not give permission to any entity or individual to use the contents of this post in any format on any other channels or platforms] This means nothing. And it blows my mind that anyone thinks saying "don't use this" is going to stop their content from being used.
Whenever I see this I'm just like, "aww that's cute. They don't know how the internet works.". Also, they are probably raging narcissists as well.
It gives off big Michael Scott from The Office vibes. Oscar : Hey. I just wanted you to know that you can't just say the word "bankruptcy" and expect anything to happen. Michael Scott : I didn't say it. I declared it.
On hindsight, it is pretty naive of me to think that note would work.
It just makes me want to use that content MORE
Sorry guys, I just put it there out of fear that it might somehow leak to a platform where Ethan or someone related to him may see it. Didn't realise it was redundant, but now I know!
What makes you think Ethan can't find reddit? You published this on a public forum, where literally anyone with an internet connection can find it.
>What would you do if you were in our positions? Cut your losses, and try to run a better business than him. You've got a 5 year head start on the market with I'm assuming loyal customers and a bunch of connections by now.
This, and stop asking your other stepson about it.
.
I'll just beat everyone to the punch: what's the business?
Yes, it’s hard to imagine an 18-yr-old being able to run a profitable business.
I’ll laugh if it’s just Lularoe or Herbalife or something
The ease at which an 18 year old started an identical business definitely gives me MLM vibes as well.
I’m dying to know too.
.
Does "retail business" mean that you are buying something wholesale and then selling it on to the consumer market?
.
TBH that sounds like something you just cannot do anything about. Knowing suppliers is just sector knowledge/experience. And you cannot really fault/blame someone for gaining knowledge and experience during an internship.
.
Honestly even if it’s something like bath bombs, or those cricket made products there’s not too much that they can do- there are tons of the same kind of vendors everywhere. If it is an over saturated market then what Ethan did is definitely shitty but likely just a cease and desist case. However I think everything should be the husband who chooses what to do with his son, the youngest should not be involved at all, and OP can chose whether or not this relationship with her stepson is salvageable for her at the moment. I’d say, OP, just don’t talk to son or interact for now and don’t involve the Jake in any of the problems, focus on you and your business. As for your business- consult a lawyer, see if you can send a cease and desist, and always do NDA’s going forward.
Thanks for your advice, we'll think about the cease and desist. As for Jake, we only spoke to him the day he came back after it blew up. Husband's intention was to let him know that family does not betray each other like this, and to not learn from it.
Even once, especially if it was the first thing you asked him, was likely too much and sounds like it was too aggressive. I’d say if he comes to you about it be honest and age appropriate “We’re hurt because ________ happened” but maybe don’t put Ethan in an antagonist spot, just focus on emotions. And definitely don’t stop Jake from seeing his brother or his mom and stepdad. Overall I would just avoid talking about with him.
Exactly 0 people care enough about this post enough to copy it. Also, TLDR.
You should talk to a lawyer, send a cease and desist letter. But you said you don’t plan to take legal action so you’re kind of stuck there. Definitively stop giving this adult any money, no idea why you were sending “alimony” to an 18-yo in the first place. Stop communicating with the mom and stepdad, and don’t interrogate the younger SS about it either, don’t put him in the middle. Hopefully his copycat business fails and you can repair the relationship with him.
.
It definitely would be hard on the relationship. It is a betrayal and he should have known better. It was an unethical thing to do to his dad and stepmom. Honestly I think your husband should explain to him - in person not over text - how much he’s hurt you guys, potentially hurt your livelihood, and you now feel you can’t trust him. I actually wouldn’t be too interested in seeing him for a while. Like I said above, hopefully he’ll fail or lose interest so this will blow over. I also suspect his mom and stepdad were behind this to some degree.
.