Sauron Discovers a Founder Ripped off His One Ring IP and Already Applied to YC24
The rate at which intellectual property can be turned into competing companies is breathtaking
I was just minding my own business, reading the New York Times, like you do. The following advertisement was targeted at me:
Now, I just wrote a column last week about that. I was bemoaning, in my immortal way, how much effort I put into the one ring. How important it would've been to create some kind of back up. Look:
And, not only did one of the readers of this newsletter steal my idea but it's already a company. And they're targeting advertisement at me. In fairness, given what online search knows about me, that's some pretty accurate advertisement targeting.
I mean, it's pretty obvious that close to 100% of my I online search activity is about rings.
So, I clicked through. Of course I clicked through. Who would not click through? In my position?
And I see this. Behold.
Somebody has already built a company around replacing lost rings. Is is like they read an article and built a company specifically to appeal to me. And probably Gollum. And maybe the Witch King of Angmar.
“Never fear, 2x free replacements.” They sell two at once?
God dammit.
You know who would love a 99 day trial that was risk-free? Me about now! I feel like such a loser. I mean, it made sense of the time to build my platform solution in the fires of mount doom. But comfortable silicone inside? So it wouldn't slip off my finger?
You mean they just read it right here? On this newsletter? And now it's a company? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. It would've worked so much better! This is humiliating. Ridge? Aragorn probably founded this with a16z and Dwarvish PE. They were digging for tungsten!?
Look, maybe people are just gonna see this as marked validation? Our One Ring solution is a market leader. We will be fine, right?
Wait a minute, they offer free shipping? And a no questions asked return guarantee? Look, at the very least, can nobody send this website to Frodo? Or those Eagles? Don't tell me. The Eagles are the ones doing the free shipping.
You know, you build, and build, and build, and then someone just comes and steals your idea. Wait, they have an ambassador program?
Can I join? Maybe I'll just be a ring influencer? OK, click here, let's see who else is doing it already…
I'm sorry, I just Can’t.
What was that? Yeah, tungsten. Just get me the tungsten one. It has got a 99 day risk-free guarantee. Don't use the company card. Just order it. Thanks.
—Sauron,
Lord of Mordor.