WebProWorld Part of WebProNews.com
Page One Link To Us Edit Profile Private Messages Archives FAQ RSS Feeds  
 

Go Back   WebProWorld > Site Design > Graphics & Design Discussion Forum
Subscribe to the Newsletter FREE!


Register FAQ Members List Calendar Arcade Chatbox Mark Forums Read

Graphics & Design Discussion Forum Post your graphics design questions/comments/ideas in here. Ask questions, post tutorials, discuss trends and best practices. Sub-forum for website accessibility and usability.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 05-04-2007, 08:36 PM
WebProWorld Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 30
Curve Appeal RepRank 0
Default Received the work from my designer

As I stated before, I received my work from my designer. (it's not on my web site yet)

We had no verbal or written contract. I do like the design very much. Very happy with that, however, this is my question.. I was looking over the design and I noticed the designer boldly has their site listed on the bottom of all my pages and has used 3 meta tags naming them as the content author, and putting their link and email.

I'd like to remove these links, and was wondering if having a "Credit" page on my site that gives them credit for the design would be fair enough?

BTW .. All they did was the design the template.. they had no part of the content.
__________________
Jen
Curve Appeal
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 05-04-2007, 09:46 PM
rumblepup's Avatar
Moderator
WebProWorld Moderator
 

Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 323
rumblepup RepRank 2
Default

Quote:
We had no verbal or written contract. I do like the design very much. Very happy with that, however, this is my question.. I was looking over the design and I noticed the designer boldly has their site listed on the bottom of all my pages and has used 3 meta tags naming them as the content author, and putting their link and email.
And there lies a little problem. I don't know the legalities of this, because basically your saying that you don't have a contract, written or otherwise. Under the law, you don't have an agreement for anything. If you are buying the site, are you buying the design, and the programming? You have to make these very clear before you move forward.

Basically, an artist, graphic or otherwise, is allowed full portfolio rights to his or her work, unless otherwise agreed upon.(see what I mean) Furthermore, the artwork belongs to the artist or designer, and you have license rights to use it, unless you have a contract that stipulates work for hire, which means you own whatever the designer does for you. I believe this includes the artwork.

Basically, you both have to agree in writing before anybody takes another step. If you want the tags gone, make an agreement with the designer. If you don't want the designer's link on the bottom of the page, then get it in writing. A credit page is fine, but in all honesty, a lot of designs show off the designer's link at the bottom.

If you don't feel like the OBL you are supplying should carry just a little weight, I would suggest making it an image link.

Other than that, get a legal document with mutual agreements to everything before you move forward.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 05-05-2007, 10:19 PM
Webnauts's Avatar
WebProWorld 1,000+ Club
 

Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 7,399
Webnauts RepRank 3Webnauts RepRank 3
Default

I can only tell for Germany.

In Germany the designer has the rights for the web site design, and you are not allowed to do any modifications, if you have not agreed otherwise.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 05-05-2007, 10:20 PM
Webnauts's Avatar
WebProWorld 1,000+ Club
 

Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 7,399
Webnauts RepRank 3Webnauts RepRank 3
Default Re: Received the work from my designer

Quote:
Originally Posted by Curve Appeal
All they did was the design the template.. they had no part of the content.
Isn't that enough?
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 05-07-2007, 09:40 AM
WebProWorld MVP
WebProWorld MVP
 

Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: KCMO
Posts: 1,110
Chris RepRank 4Chris RepRank 4Chris RepRank 4
Default Re: Received the work from my designer

Quote:
Originally Posted by Webnauts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curve Appeal
All they did was the design the template.. they had no part of the content.
Isn't that enough?
that doesn't mean they should emblazon their name all over her site either... or are you suggesting design trumps content?
__________________
Former WebProWorld Admin
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 05-08-2007, 04:24 PM
WebProWorld Member
 

Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 65
suzstephens RepRank 0
Default Re: Received the work from my designer

Quote:
Originally Posted by Curve Appeal
We had no verbal or written contract.
Under U.S. Copyright Law, the designer owns the rights unless they have been transferred prior in a written contract PRIOR TO beginning the work.

Suzanne
__________________
Suzanne Stephens, Custom Design for Point2 Real Estate Web Sites
http://www.SuzStephens.com
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 05-10-2007, 04:58 PM
ran_dizolph's Avatar
WebProWorld Veteran
 

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Windsor, ON
Posts: 488
ran_dizolph RepRank 1
Default

IMHO, a link on the bottom is not too much to ask.

Plus, how many people are going to be looking at the meta tags that hardly hold any value anymore anyways?

If it's that big an issue, take it up with the designer.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 05-15-2007, 08:30 AM
WebProWorld Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 73
SurfYourName RepRank 0
Default Ownership

This has been a question since the beginning of internet. Who owns what! The meta tags are yours 100% so change them. You can modify your site anyway you want. Since there is no contract, there isn’t much that can be done. This is a problem many people encounter because they are using freelance designers instead of a professional firm.

This isn’t a promo, but I will tell you how our firm works. We hold our clients hands from the beginning. Notice I didn’t say “From beginning to end” because with us, there is no end. We update our clients sites, perform SEO, etc. We build the relationship, its really that simple. The only thing we “ask” is for our link at the bottom of their page. We make the link flow with their site and its not HUGE at all. If the client has a problem with that, we talk about it and come to a conclusion and move forward on a case-by-case basis.

If you need help, let me know, you can join our list of satisfied clients! Good luck!

Mr. Erik Bledsoe
1-888-300-8776 Ext. 705
www.SurfYourName.com
Erik@SurfYourName.com
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 05-18-2007, 02:16 PM
WebProWorld Pro
 

Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 212
Eagle Imagery RepRank 0
Default Re: Ownership

Quote:
Originally Posted by SurfYourName
...because they are using freelance designers instead of a professional firm.
So, is there no such thing as a professional freelancer?...
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 05-18-2007, 03:55 PM
WebProWorld Member
 

Join Date: May 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 77
FreeDesignQuote RepRank 1
Default

Not at all. Many professional freelancers out there. All i am saying is there are benefits to working with a design firm. If a designer quits, they have others to take over. Those types of things.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  WebProWorld > Site Design > Graphics & Design Discussion Forum
Tags: , ,



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0