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Comment by ryanwaggoner | Hacker News Reader

Yeah, I know. It's just ridiculous, because he was (maybe still is?) the upstart in this space a couple years ago when he started a mailing list and now he's throwing around C&D notices like he's this great innovator in the space?

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There's nothing wrong with the incumbent defending his turf.

I personally think HARO needs a kick in the arse, quality and innovation wise.

Bring it on.

IMO there's something wrong with the incumbent defending his turf this way. If they want to out-innovate or out-compete the guy, great, but I personally find it hard to back a business who only aims to win by out-lawyering their rivals.

Frivolous C&D aside, I don't quite understand your logic. You seem to be trying to use the idea that he just started a simple mailing list as proof that his approach to the problem he was solving wasn't innovative, and yet you claim he was the inspiration for your product. So what was it about this particular person's approach that inspired you if you didn't think it was innovative?

Just the general idea of connecting reporters and sources. That's all. Before HARO, I had never thought about the problem at all. But HARO is hardly a new idea at all, it's just that's where I first encountered it.

I see, that makes sense to me now.

From his point of view, hey, it might have worked.

From our points of view: for the best that it didn't, plus he looks like an ass.

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