Million Dollar Earth turns 24...days old! First copycat emerges

It took only 16 days for Jerry Li to create the first copycat of MillionDollarEarth.com, called FortuneEarth. A cheap ripoff of a clever and original idea by Ryan Hart and Scott Dahl. Visiting that site, you get introduced to ads and a not so elegant design.

 

Ryan Hart said in a blog post on MillionDollarEarth, "You may be thinking that my reactions was OH NO YOU DON’T! but rather it was THANK YOU. Copy-cats validate the feasibility of a venture. Imitators show you that you are on the right path. Everyone loves a good cover song."

The ripoff site appears to have sold 3 cities already for a total sum of $40.500 US. The original project (MDE) has sold 43 cities for $58.250 US, but you get to keep the city for yourself and can later resell for a better offer. Unlike FortuneEarth were you pay ridiculous amounts for exclusive ownership and without the ability of re-selling it for a better offer. Meanwhile MDE gives 10% of the proceeds to Charity:Water, a non-profit organization that brings clean water to millions in need.

There is also a contest to win a $1000 city on MillionDollarEarth. I've already signed my email and if I'm lucky to win, I'll resell and give the earnings to the same charity! Since I live near a spring of fresh water that is just a couple kilometers from my home, I'm in no need of fresh water unlike millions.

http://www.milliondollarearth.com/ 

Million Dollar Earth

Remember back then in 2005 when a website came online, selling pixels for 1$ each? Imagine now the same with Google Maps Pins. Yes, that's right! You can virtual own an entire city now!

Ryan Hart and Scott Dahl, inspired by Alex Tew's idea on selling pixels for advertisement, sparked a brilliant idea in them.

“What would happen if that idea could be reapplied so that someone could “own” the virtual pinpoints within Google Maps,” Hart mused. “Someone could virtually own an entire city.”

Then both felt this burning in the chest, when you get while having an awesome idea, and started working on their idea.

MillionDollarEarth.com

You can now virtually "own" an entire city and place advertisements on it. The virtual city "owners" can include their Facebook Page, Twitter Feed, Youtube video and a custom text box to add whatever they want.

Both Hart and Dahl created this service not just to become rich and famous, but to contribute back to the world by giving 10% of the proceeds to Charity:Water, a non-profit organization helping people of developing nations have clean drinkable water.

A very honorable gesture from them. I wish this world had more people like them.

“Online there has been no unique voice in advertising,” says Hart. “I want this website to change that and be the creative wall for businesses to hang their advertisement on.”

MillionDollarEarth.com