Meta tags robbed

What to do ?

[wolfy]

Hi Webmasters!!
Here is a question for you:

I have a client who owns a web site and, it's quite well positioned in search engine results, he has a competitor who, has copied its meta tags. Ok, you'd say, what's the problem? Everyone can copy some KWs and description but not with the company name inside!! I mean when you make a search for KW1 + KW2 appear:

- my client result with its description taken from meta name description ( Lycos.it )include the company name,

- the competitor result with the same description included company name of my client

What should I do now?

- Send a letter to the competitor telling him, please change your web optimizer and stop working on the net if you're not able,

- going through legal ways?

I hope you can support me.

thanks.

wolfy

[Jens]

In many cases of obvious copyrights violations a simple, polite but confident and strongly insisting letter from any lawyer will do.
The case sounds as if there is a trademark protection issue involved if the original company has their company name registered/protected. Should be an easy case then.
The reaction of the other party will tell you if you need to step up to stronger measures. As a next step I would try to contact their executives with a copy to the FTC.
If that all does not help, have a lawyer look into it with a real mandate.
All the best, Jens