Websites and removal of my footer information.

[Fragil1ty]

Hey guys, just a quick question really.

I used to be employed at a firm and in in the meeting (they are family friends) I stated that at the bottom of my websites I add (I call it copyright information in an effort to gain myself free publicity, it's just so that people know who the websites was made by and so on and so forth), it's essentially like the following:

<footer start>
Copyright (c) (Name of company) | My name (link to my site) | Log-in
<footer end>

So I left that company a good month or so ago, it was time for me to move on and find something better (I was being paid crap wages and so on), but I didn't hold a grudge, I just said thank you for the opportunity, if you need anything in the future e.g. touch ups, let me know and so on.

But I logged onto their websites today and found out that they had removed my name from the bottom of their websites despite me saying that it needs to be on their websites unless they re-create it and what not.

So is there anything I can do about this or is it out of my hands?

[Lain1911]

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

[Fragil1ty]

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.


Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

[dustinhxc]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

[tp4tissue]

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.


Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

Ha... fueled by vengeance, his nerves teetering on the brink of a depressive abyss,

Fragility utilizes the backdoor he programmed into the site, family friends no-more-indeed...

[Fragil1ty]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Hey there, nice to meet you also! Yeah, I agree. I think it's rude to do so, sigh. Some people are just vindictive for the sake of being vindictive.

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.

Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

Ha... fueled by vengeance, his nerves teetering on the brink of a depressive abyss,

Fragility utilizes the backdoor he programmed into the site, family friends no-more-indeed...

Show Image

 

Lol, the strange thing is, I still have access to their FTP's for all of their websites, so you know. I could, well.. I think you know. >:D

[Lain1911]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Pretty much this. No contract = bad practice and it is rude for them to just take it off. Just talk to them professionally about it. A lot of my work is not contract but it's at my own risk really. Just encourage them to realize it is their product but you did the work. (and I assume you got paid...and possible have the power to take the site offline if they do not comply )

[Fragil1ty]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Pretty much this. No contract = bad practice and it is rude for them to just take it off. Just talk to them professionally about it. A lot of my work is not contract but it's at my own risk really. Just encourage them to realize it is their product but you did the work. (and I assume you got paid...and possible have the power to take the site offline if they do not comply )

I was thinking about doing just that, it's a little bit aggravating. I'll have to send them a carefully worded email and see what can be done about the situation, as it's just, it's a little out of order is all.

[tp4tissue]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Hey there, nice to meet you also! Yeah, I agree. I think it's rude to do so, sigh. Some people are just vindictive for the sake of being vindictive.

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.

Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

Ha... fueled by vengeance, his nerves teetering on the brink of a depressive abyss,

Fragility utilizes the backdoor he programmed into the site, family friends no-more-indeed...

Show Image

 

Lol, the strange thing is, I still have access to their FTP's for all of their websites, so you know. I could, well.. I think you know. >:D

[dustinhxc]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Hey there, nice to meet you also! Yeah, I agree. I think it's rude to do so, sigh. Some people are just vindictive for the sake of being vindictive.

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.

Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

Ha... fueled by vengeance, his nerves teetering on the brink of a depressive abyss,

Fragility utilizes the backdoor he programmed into the site, family friends no-more-indeed...

Show Image

 

Lol, the strange thing is, I still have access to their FTP's for all of their websites, so you know. I could, well.. I think you know. >:D

That's funny they would remove your name but not change the password.

[Fragil1ty]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Hey there, nice to meet you also! Yeah, I agree. I think it's rude to do so, sigh. Some people are just vindictive for the sake of being vindictive.

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.

Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

Ha... fueled by vengeance, his nerves teetering on the brink of a depressive abyss,

Fragility utilizes the backdoor he programmed into the site, family friends no-more-indeed...

Show Image

 

Lol, the strange thing is, I still have access to their FTP's for all of their websites, so you know. I could, well.. I think you know. >:D

That's funny they would remove your name but not change the password.

They're not that bright.


They did change my access to WP though and remove my admin access. Clearly they don't know that I've got access to the database and can just change it through there, lol.

[tp4tissue]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Hey there, nice to meet you also! Yeah, I agree. I think it's rude to do so, sigh. Some people are just vindictive for the sake of being vindictive.

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.

Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

Ha... fueled by vengeance, his nerves teetering on the brink of a depressive abyss,

Fragility utilizes the backdoor he programmed into the site, family friends no-more-indeed...

Show Image

 

Lol, the strange thing is, I still have access to their FTP's for all of their websites, so you know. I could, well.. I think you know. >:D

That's funny they would remove your name but not change the password.

They're not that bright.


They did change my access to WP though and remove my admin access. Clearly they don't know that I've got access to the database and can just change it through there, lol.

Drive to the bordering state which is furthest from your current location. use all cash for food and gas, no credit card.   go to a terminal some where,  use Chinese proxy,  destroy site..

all-the-while

Have your mother or father take a sick day, then they can vouch for you saying you were home helping them re-cooperate..

Also have them play your steam account while you're out... making sure they get a few achievements that day..

wow this actually might work..

[Frenir]

Greetings fellow web-developer.

That is just rude.

[dustinhxc]

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Hey there, nice to meet you also! Yeah, I agree. I think it's rude to do so, sigh. Some people are just vindictive for the sake of being vindictive.

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.

Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

Ha... fueled by vengeance, his nerves teetering on the brink of a depressive abyss,

Fragility utilizes the backdoor he programmed into the site, family friends no-more-indeed...

Show Image

 

Lol, the strange thing is, I still have access to their FTP's for all of their websites, so you know. I could, well.. I think you know. >:D

That's funny they would remove your name but not change the password.

They're not that bright.


They did change my access to WP though and remove my admin access. Clearly they don't know that I've got access to the database and can just change it through there, lol.

Hahaha yes it's funny they will edit stuff in Wordpress and think it changes the entire database. :P

I also am a Web Designer, nice to meet you man. I add my website to all footers of Websites I design as well. If you didnt sign a contract then there probably isnt much you can do. But out of good faith they should leave the info there unless they make a new layout. If I only make an update for someone I dont remove their designer from the footer. That is RUDE.

Hey there, nice to meet you also! Yeah, I agree. I think it's rude to do so, sigh. Some people are just vindictive for the sake of being vindictive.

Since they are "family friends" I'd try to talk to them first. As long as you have the original files and you can prove you did the work and they continue to use your work openly for profits of their business then I'd say yes you can do something to fight it. Law if need be. Depends on how big the project was or if you want to blacklist them :) I had a similar issue but the company just didn't use me work. (and didn't pay me) would have been more of a loss to sue or go after them for me. Just be careful :\ sounds like they might not be family friends for long.

Ah I see.

Never had an issue like this arise before, so not really sure what the best course of action would be. This would fall under the fair use act, would it not?

Ha... fueled by vengeance, his nerves teetering on the brink of a depressive abyss,

Fragility utilizes the backdoor he programmed into the site, family friends no-more-indeed...

Show Image

 

Lol, the strange thing is, I still have access to their FTP's for all of their websites, so you know. I could, well.. I think you know.

That's funny they would remove your name but not change the password.

They're not that bright.


They did change my access to WP though and remove my admin access. Clearly they don't know that I've got access to the database and can just change it through there, lol.

Drive to the bordering state which is furthest from your current location. use all cash for food and gas, no credit card.   go to a terminal some where,  use Chinese proxy,  destroy site..

all-the-while

Have your mother or father take a sick day, then they can vouch for you saying you were home helping them re-cooperate..

Also have them play your steam account while you're out... making sure they get a few achievements that day..

Have them play steam, haha that is great.

Greetings fellow web-developer.

That is just rude.

Nice to meet you as well!

[Lain1911]

Is this going to turn into a meet and  greet web designer watering hole?

[Frenir]

Is this going to turn into a meet and  greet web designer watering hole?

Would actually be an interesting thread.

[paicrai]

this went from "how are the bad fix?" to "how are the site hacks?" it seems

[Frenir]

this went from "how are the bad fix?" to "how are the site hacks?" it seems

Hacking is just fiddling essentially, black hatters have just given hacking a bad name


Edit: In this case though you're right - it would be quite black hat to hack here. I just know how anti-hacking you are in general

[bursar]

What does (did) your employment contract state? In the UK, it's pretty common that your employer takes ownership of any work that you carry out whilst under their employ. So if as part of your job (whether you were employed specifically as a web designer or not) you created/updated their website, then it's their site, and they own it. If they want to make further updates to it (that may include removing your name), then it's not rude, it's their right.

Ofcourse if you have a contract that lays out the details of the web development work you carried out for them, and part of that contract is that your name appear in the footer of the site, then they have breached that contract. A polite word in their ear, reminding them of what they agreed to, might do the trick.

[davkol]

Yup. It depends, whether you've signed a CLA, or not.

I'm not too sure about US copyright laws, but the so-called "copyright" has generally two parts: monopoly on dealing with the work (mostly copying) and autorship itself (the fact that you are the author, it cannot be transferred). The latter is relevant here.

[paicrai]

this went from "how are the bad fix?" to "how are the site hacks?" it seems

Hacking is just fiddling essentially, black hatters have just given hacking a bad name


Edit: In this case though you're right - it would be quite black hat to hack here. I just know how anti-hacking you are in general

i'm not anti-hacking, i think hacking is cool, i just really love taking the piss out of haxors that think an ip is the key to world domination and think they're the ****, when they're actually a 12 year old sociopath on 4chan that followed a ddos tutorial on youtube

[Frenir]

this went from "how are the bad fix?" to "how are the site hacks?" it seems

Hacking is just fiddling essentially, black hatters have just given hacking a bad name


Edit: In this case though you're right - it would be quite black hat to hack here. I just know how anti-hacking you are in general

i'm not anti-hacking, i think hacking is cool, i just really love taking the piss out of haxors that think an ip is the key to world domination and think they're the ****, when they're actually a 12 year old sociopath on 4chan that followed a ddos tutorial on youtube

ahhh - good old script-kiddies.

[paicrai]

this went from "how are the bad fix?" to "how are the site hacks?" it seems

Hacking is just fiddling essentially, black hatters have just given hacking a bad name


Edit: In this case though you're right - it would be quite black hat to hack here. I just know how anti-hacking you are in general

i'm not anti-hacking, i think hacking is cool, i just really love taking the piss out of haxors that think an ip is the key to world domination and think they're the ****, when they're actually a 12 year old sociopath on 4chan that followed a ddos tutorial on youtube

ahhh - good old script-kiddies.

also greyscale headwear hackers are obv losers
white hats 5 lyf

[Lanx]

you're not currently under contract from them nor are "maintaining" the website, of course they should take your name off it, i mean if we're being technical about it, why should they give you a link while loosing out on link juice (outbound links) when all you really are is the legacy guy.

[dustinhxc]

you're not currently under contract from them nor are "maintaining" the website, of course they should take your name off it, i mean if we're being technical about it, why should they give you a link while loosing out on link juice (outbound links) when all you really are is the legacy guy.

Maybe because he designed it. Would you remove clacks name from a clack?

Exactly.


Unless it was a template then that would make sense.

[whiskytango]

What does (did) your employment contract state? In the UK, it's pretty common that your employer takes ownership of any work that you carry out whilst under their employ. So if as part of your job (whether you were employed specifically as a web designer or not) you created/updated their website, then it's their site, and they own it. If they want to make further updates to it (that may include removing your name), then it's not rude, it's their right.

Ofcourse if you have a contract that lays out the details of the web development work you carried out for them, and part of that contract is that your name appear in the footer of the site, then they have breached that contract. A polite word in their ear, reminding them of what they agreed to, might do the trick.

This. If you were an "employee" at the time, then whatever you create as their employ belongs to the employer, generally. If you were an independent contractor though, then I dunno, it gets a little mirky for me there. I don't profess to know much about IP law.