Customer stole my design…

[Denise Goodfellow]

when you save the design on the computer, its dated, so worth mentioning that you can date when you designed it.

I have filled in the online court letter and then printed it out and included that with the email, this shows you are close to sending it all off etc.

I also put that if it does go to court and you win, then they are liable for all the costs also.

[Peter Dee]

Lorraine, I did just this a few years ago and posted all the stages on the forum.
Essentially, I sent a bill for use of our copyrighted design.
This was explained as being individual by layout, colour applications and font styles. I explained that as it was our own copyrighted design she would have to pay us for a licence to use it (you can not transfer copyright of original artwork). This licence applied to the single address as I would then be able to charge for every address if she became a multiple.
Post it signed for.
I got no replies to any contact so just in case she was refusing any recorded deliveries, I copied the letter etc and hand wrote a non business type envelope, which I stuffed through the letterbox. I knew she would open this.
In the end it cost her £180 for the design and court fees. In fact it was an easier way of earning money than actually doing the job!
A photo taken after job was done was identical in every way to my artwork.

[Nigel Hindley]

Hi Lorraine, this has happened to us too, as to all no doubt. I wouldn’t add anything I wouldn’t mention any doubt or even mention that going elsewhere is bad/wrong, simply you have enclosed the invoice for the design work as instructed.

Nigel

[David Rogers]

Another, well, really the only reason why NO artwork leaves my desktop without a deposit.

Fed up of getting my stuff ripped off too in the past.

Don’t even hand out printouts…

GOOD clients get them…but even then it’s all watermarked.

[Robert Lambie]

quote Nigel Hindley:

Hi Lorraine, this has happened to us too, as to all no doubt. I wouldn’t add anything I wouldn’t mention any doubt or even mention that going elsewhere is bad/wrong, simply you have enclosed the invoice for the design work as instructed.

Nigel

ive went various ways over the years. this, as nigel has stated is the best resulting one…

your design work is part of a costing which is included in the livery price, "once the vehicle livery has been paid in full".
not only did they not use your service after wasting your time, they paid someone else to use your design.

reality is, 99% will not pay up…
but hell… dont take a beaten without landing some punches. 😉

[Neil Kelly]

This has only happened to me once and it still hurts when i see it driving round but hey only bad Carma will land at this Muppet’s door. good look with your claim.

[Mike Grant]

Here is my story….

http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … highlight=

[Jill Marie Welsh]

DEPOSIT DEPOSIT DEPOSIT.
👿
Never even turn on the computer without one. A person is not a customer until they give you a deposit, why work for free and then have to deal with this bullshit?
Love….Jill

[Nick Minnery]

How annoying, bet you couldn’t believe it when you saw that van.

I imagine it’s quite hard getting customers to pay money/deposit up front before a design is even done, that’s the problem.

You never stop learning on this job.

[Ryan McHenry]

Poke her in the eye! 😉

[David Hammond]

They’ve a cheek.

I find it hard to get money from a customer before they see anything.

Back in Jan I changed the way I handled jobs.

Find out how much they want to spend! No point planning a full colour digital sign, for them to say they can’t afford it. I work to a budget, and use this to upsell, or tell them to go else where if I can tell they expect the world for £100!

I send over a few ‘initial’ designs, on vans I send only 1 side of the van, you get the idea from that. I spend very little time on them, but offer cheaper, on budget and slightly over budget options.

Customer sends feedback, ie; I like the text on A, but the colour of B, then I take the deposit, and work towards their final design. Ok some customers get the first set of designs and never hear back, but there’s no finished design, and just a little wasted time. Still annoying.

[Mark van Dam]

If you give artwork definitely watermark it. If I get given some one Else’s Artwork, I call them and give them the heads up. I will quote higher than they did to the customer not wanting to do it. Its amazing how the the other Signwriter then treats you after that. We definately dont need to get Involved in price wars and stealing from others. Only results in lower prices in the end and our skills become de valued.