Received the work from my designer

[Curve Appeal]

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.

[rumblepup]

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.

[Webnauts]

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.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by Curve Appeal

All they did was the design the template.. they had no part of the content.

Isn't that enough?

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Webnauts

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?

[suzstephens]

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

[ran_dizolph]

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.

[SurfYourName]

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

[Eagle Imagery]

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?...

[FreeDesignQuote]

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.