what can i do about copycats & copyright please?

[Alex Wilson]

Hi Pryam

I know this has been covered in other posts so can I suggest not giving people printed designs unless a deposit has been given to you. This man walked in to your shop with another persons design you should have realised they he would probably be going to do the same to you. And before you say it I have been guilty of doing exactly the same thing in the past. These people are a waste of your time and effort but if they do not walk out of the door with your design for free in their hand at least they cannot copy what you have done for them.

Kind regards

Alex

[Peter Dee]

Give him a ring and ask why he used your design but not with you installing.
Tell him that the design/layout is copyright and he doesn’t have permission to use it. Advise him of your design fee and take it from there.
A classic case for a small claim.
Just go through the motions properly – follow up the phone call in writing quoting his replies.
Bill him with 7 days to pay. Statement with 7 days to settle or legal action.
Still no payment, go for it.
Why not post up here your artwork and a photo of the fascia?

[Pryam Carter]

Peter, thats exactly what my intentions are, i’m also going to find the other signmaker and question why he would do it.
I’m off camping now but i’ll post a picture early next week.

[Harry Cleary]

Phone the the *^$*@!!! and tell him you will be taking legal action and name your solicitor, wait a day or so and get a mate who has a posh camera and tripod (essential for the effect) to go and set up a photo shoot when you know he is on the premises. When the *^$*@!!! asks what he is doing tell your mate to tell him that ‘he works for xy Solicitors and that it is the subject of some case or other’, might show him that you are serious, you will need a good pic for a court case anyhow. Worked for me with an Indian Restaurant I did a very expensive sign for, the guy paid up a few days later.

[Hugh Potter]

too right! make sure you have a good read of the other copyrights thread too!

[Neil Speirs]

quote Harry Cleary:

Phone the the *^$*@!!! and tell him you will be taking legal action and name your solicitor, wait a day or so and get a mate who has a posh camera and tripod (essential for the effect) to go and set up a photo shoot when you know he is on the premises. When the *^$*@!!! asks what he is doing tell your mate to tell him that ‘he works for xy Solicitors and that it is the subject of some case or other’, might show him that you are serious, you will need a good pic for a court case anyhow. Worked for me with an Indian Restaurant I did a very expensive sign for, the guy paid up a few days later.

Brilliant !

I like your style Harry :thumbup2:

[DaneRead]

in the last week i have become merciless regarding customers.

i have haded out 4 final demand letters for payment i have been to the police today regarding a bounced cheque.

they are opening up a fraud case.
I have had enough with customer that get away with things.

The method of taking pics from the solicitors is the best thing. you must scare the %$%(er. They will soon pay.

Tell him what part of copyright does he not understand.

i hope you sue the &*^*& out of him.

[DaneRead]

sorry ive had a %*%^*&^ day

[John Childs]

quote DaneRead:

sorry ive had a %*%^*&^ day

I hadn’t noticed. 😀

Hope it gets better for you.

[John Singh]

Had someone asking for a quote for a van by email

He sent me a lovely design to go with it
In fact it was done on Van Outlines

I thought someone’s taken a lot of time to work out the layout and design
And now this herbert of a client is using it to get the best quote

Needless to say I didn’t bother with it
I don’t like working with people of that mentality

[Pryam Carter]

Looks like theres a bit of stress out there!!
I’ve calmed down on the issue after a weekend of camping with the family.
However i am still going to go and give him my bill, i’ll let him know he has thirty days to pay, after that he will receive reminders and letters and then if it hasn’t been paid the solicitors will be involved.
I like the photo idea Harry.

I don’t mind people going out to get several quotes for a fascia sign, i understand that setting a business up can be an expensive game. What gets my goat is the signmaker up the road who has said that he’ll do the sign using my design. He hasn’t even bothered to come up with a better idea for the customer, i think that is cheap. He’s operating like a back street merchant and has gone down some what in my estimations.
i’m off to see him this week to find out why he did it.

[Peter Dee]

30 days is too long, 14 days at most.

[Shane Drew]

quote Peter Dee:

30 days is too long, 14 days at most.

7 days is better. Shows you mean business 👿

[Bill McMurtry]

If you can prove breach of copyright, which you clearly can, then why let him steal any more of your time by trying to chase him down yourself?

Rather than play around with the ratbag, contact your solicitor immediately and ask him to send the parasite a letter of demand for your outstanding design fee plus the solicitor’s cost for the letter (that should at least double the bill). When these people know a legal expense clock is ticking they soon come to their senses and pay up. With any luck he might even learn a lesson too.

[Peter Dee]

Over here in a Country where the system will lean over backwards to help the wrong-doer, it will be nigh impossible to claim back solicitors costs without first giving the customer a chance to pay.
I have outlined the procedure in the other copyright thread and proved that it works.
If the customer isn’t given a couple of chances to pay (7 day invoice and 7 day statement plus notice of legal action) and comes up with a lame excuse like away on holiday or never received the invoice a Court will find against you.