Website Copyright Infringment

[Hugh Potter]

there has been a thread on this subject in the past, I forget who it was but someone will probably know. i’ll have a look in a moment.

it is possible that the owners of the business didn’t make the site but, it’s pretty improbable that they’ve not looked at it and seen images not of their doing.

first step if it were me would be to phone the sign shop and ask them to remove all content, both written and images, that belong to you within 24hrs.

if they haven’t done it by then, email them and remind them that 24hrs is up and using your images is unacceptable.

if that still doesn’t work i’d write to them (special delivery) and send them a bill for using your images so far, X amount per day, give them either 24hrs to remove your content or the option to go to small claims where you’ll sue for use of copyrighted materials and that trading standards will also be involved as they are "passing off" your work as theirs.

[John Parfit]

Send them an invoice for your artwork and time spent in compiling the copy text.

As we all know there’s a lot of cowboys out there, don’t give them a period of time to remove it, they’ll just use somebody elses work next.

If they don’t pay take them to small claims court, even if you don’t get anywhere it will cost very little and will provide some enjoyment and probably scare the sh…te out of the wasters.

John

[Jill Marie Welsh]

Have a cease and desist letter sent to them and also notify their webmaster that they are in violation of copyright laws.
Love….Jill

[Phill Fenton]

This happened to me many years ago. My website was copied word for word so I emailed them and the site was removed almost straight away. I suspect it was a cut price "Web Designer" that had done it without the other sign business realising it was a copy of my site (which was pretty crap anyway but OK for its time . 😳 )

[KevinGaffney]

Reminds me a little of some of these franchise operations that have a website showing images of work done, none of which may have been done by the local franchisee but by someone likely to be in a different country with a lot more experience in the area. Talk about misleading advertising. Personally I couldn’t stomach putting a picture on my website that wasn’t my work. Your’e right though to take it as a sort of compliment, but certainly wouldn’t let it go

[Neil Kelly]

Thanks all for your reply’s

The more I look into the site the madder I get they have copied downloadable pdf’s word for word I would estimate 75% of the images are from my web site. estimated 200 plus so i imagine most of the rest are from someone else’s, the FAQ section is word for word the section headers are almost identical. I am gobsmacked that someone in this creative industry should show such a lack of creativity to copy the info so blatantly. I have sent an email but have had no reply yet.

I really feel like naming and shaming, I know some here have suggested it may be the web designers fault but the owner surely would know that the images were not his signs and unlikely available in the public domain. and as you say Kevin why would you want other peoples work on your web site.

The signatures in his testimonial’s may be getting an email from me letting them know what an unscrupulous scoundrel and internet vagabond they are dealing with…… Its internet highway robbery……

Dik Turpin is alive and well and he lives in Nottingham

[David Hammond]

Run a WHOIS on the domain, will give you some info if it’s not available on their website.

I did this with a customer who was taking the Pi$$, he got a surprise letter through the door. 😀

[Peter Normington]

I would name and shame,
someone on here may know who it is and have a word in their ear,
Peter

[Ian Johnston]

a quick google soon finds it

http://www.havenwood.co.uk/

complete rip off,

one word
SOLICITOR

[Martin Cole]

quote Ian Johnston:

complete rip off,

one word
SOLICITOR

Totally agree,

Shame on you Havenwood signs.

I was p11ssed off as someone has one of my images on their website and someone else local to me almost had phrases from mine word for word, since now changed…but this really takes the biscuit,

All credit to you Neil, stunning portfolio you have.

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

I think a nice polite letter to haven signs pointing out the problem, and also add in the letter that it’s not their fault and they should consider taking legal action to recover their money from the web designers if they haven’t supplied the images to the designer, as he or she is obviously charging them for work they haven’t done!

But, you could also go to trading standards as they are advertising using examples of work that they haven’t done themselves which is deliberately misleading potential customers. Not only is it breach of copyright, but also its false advertising, deception and theft (dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another)

Or send them a bill for using the artwork, then go to TS or OFT and complain about the misleading advertising….

Please post your results, I can’t wait to see how this transpires

[David-Foster-]

I can’t believe they have done that (:) Companies House says it’s not a new Company, they have been trading since 1999 as Neon Workshop and they are well in on the search engines. Can’t be just the web designer, have they a grudge against you? It’s very elaborate for a prank.

[David Rogers]

I strongly suspect it’s the web designers Monkrat that will have pinched your content unless they were provided with a full set by their client.
Make both parties aware with a cease and desist email with a 48 hour compliance period. Then go legal on them.

Dave

[Neil Kelly]

Thanks all for the support.

Its quite strange but i feel like i have been violated I imagine this is how a person must feel when they have been burgled and had their personal belongings tossed out of their draws and stolen.

I’m going to give them 24 hrs to respond and then ill get the big guns out. What seems a shame is that some of the other work on this site that seems to be local so probably done by this company seem quite good and client list looks reputable. As you say David they have been around since 1999 so should have a great portfolio of work to display. it smells a rat and I hope that the Web master is to blame and not one of the sign fraternity.
As I will not enjoy having to take a fellow sign maker through the courts.

Good work detective Johnston… 🙂

[KevinGaffney]

I don’t understand why the webmaster is getting the blame. If someone designed a site for me using a competitors photos, I would spot it instantly and pull the site until the site was properly. That other sign company is 100% wrong and I would follow them. Despicable business practices on their part. Mind you, the three references on their site are pretty pathetic. Sound like three Mickey mouse jobs

[David Hammond]

Me too Kevin.

Pursue the sign company, who in turn should be taking action against their designer.

The sign company surely know that they have false images in their portfolio.

[Mike Grant]

Can someone tell me how you find out if someone has nicked your pics????

[David McDonald]

Hi

That is terrible – how on earth did they think they could get away with it!

http://www.copyscape.com

A useful website for checking if people have copied your website.

Cheers
Macky

[David-Foster-]

quote David McDonald:

!

http://www.copyscape.com

A useful website for checking if people have copied your website.

Cheers
Macky

Put the offenders website in and he’s copied off more than one site!

Good find Macky

[Neil Kelly]

Great Website David thanks for that. I have discovered two websites in Australia one in India and 4 in the united Kingdom that have all copied blocks of text. fortunately none have copied any pictures. I am glad to say that the offending Website is now not showing any of my pictures or bodies of text.

It took one email and 72 hours later I get a reply that simply read.

" The Web site will be taken off line shortly ."

no explanation or apology. well what do you expect.
Thanks to all who contributed and lent there support A problem shared is definitely a problem halved. I hope i can return the favour one day

many thanks …… Neil ……

[Hugh Potter]

I’m glad it’s gone down but surely an apology would not be too much to ask for?

if nothing else you;d expect a naff excuse!