Hi,
I was wondering if I could get some advice from some Kirupa users please, sorry if similar questions have been asked before.
I’m currently having a disagreement with a client. When they first commissioned my business to create them a Prospectus, I spent a long time creating a great design for them. They were very happy with the design. The client were then told that they had to use their companies internal Print room to create all their materials from now on… bit of a bummer but I thought “OK cant be helped”. Next thing I know the print room have stolen my design and made a rubbish version of it. Basically they’ve taken my design and rubbed out parts and changed the text and a few graphics.
I was very annoyed at this and politely asked the client if they could not do that again because it was plagiarism and its not fair that the print room takes the credit for my hard work. I was also losing business because people thought I created the new bad version. The client agreed that they promise not to use the design again and everything was A OK. Now a few days ago I get an email asking for their latest prospectus to be updated on their site (which I also made for them)… and low and behold they used my design again!! I again asked the client why they were using my design again and the basic response I got was that:
They were going to use the design again.
That I was heavily inspired by their old prospectus (totally untrue).
That I should supply them with a list of things that I felt was my design.
The whole tone of their emails have changed their all serious now as opposed to the chirpy banter before. I think they know they are in the wrong. I think its very unfair they think they can do this to me.
What do you think I should do? Just forget about it and let them used a basterdised version of my design? Or ask them to retract it, or even take legal action against them.
I’m based in the UK. There were never any contracts written out to say who owns the rights to the design.
Skid
