Copyright/designed by...

[Roms]

I've decided it's not worth worrying about people removing my "designed by" or copyright notice because it costs me to much money to go after them and they know it... I'm going to start adding a notice that for any amount (even $1) I'm happy to remove the notice.... at least I will be getting something for my efforts. People know you can't do anything unless you fork out the bucks....

I work for a company (besides my military affiliation) and it costs us 10.000US or more every time we want to go after someone.......

What are your thoughts?

[Freesteyelz]

It depends on what copyright that was infringed upon and how much I want to pursue it. :)

As for attaching a fee to legally remove the copyright notice, I am not sure. Why not just release it as paid work?

[Roms]

It depends on what copyright that was infringed upon and how much I want to pursue it. :)

As for attaching a fee to legally remove the copyright notice, I am not sure. Why not just release it as paid work?

I like to release both free styles and paid. I like doing the free styles, it gets your name out there and it's nice helping people out. I just wish the minority would respect that and leave the copyright on.. I guess I'm saying if it needs to be removed that badly then they should give a donation for the removal.

[JD45]

I agree. Its difficult to be able to afford to go after just anyone. Now if it was microsoft removing your copywrite, then you'd at least have some assurances of making out.

[Sean S]

see that's the problem, I will bet you 100% that if someone wants to remove the copyright notice like that, they wouldn't even bother paying a cent for the removal, not even a dollar.

[FLMom]

Well for me personally, I am sooooo very thankful that all of you put so much hard work and time into this stuff and release it here for free for non coding members like me that I always keep everything I install as is. That is the least I can do and I always click install too ;)

So some of us here do respect and appreciate all of you a lot :D It's too bad that some people are that dishonest :(

[Dr.Viggy]

Well for me personally, I am sooooo very thankful that all of you put so much hard work and time into this stuff and release it here for free for non coding members like me that I always keep everything I install as is. That is the least I can do and I always click install too ;)

So some of us here do respect and appreciate all of you a lot :D It's too bad that some people are that dishonest :(
this.

i couldn't have said it better myself

[Freesteyelz]

Sean S made the perfect point. :)

First, you'll need to track the sites which illegally removed the copyright notice to even consider pursuing action or claim against it. Secondly, you're assuming that anyone who downloads your (free) styles will honor the free-branding clause. Third, those who've already downloaded your (free) styles is a matter of after-fact. Fourth, while the $1 is an example it's not worth a person to make the effort to pay; some will but most won't bother.

I hear you Infantrymen but to me the reasonable solution is to release the styles you wish to protect as "paid" releases. Charge $5 or whatever the amount you see fit. Plus, for the customers who paid they will be documented. You can require them to give you the URL in which the Style will be placed. You'll have options.

[Roms]

Thanks, I'm "venting" more than anything... The last week or so I've seen a lot of sites using my styles without the credits, a majority of the members here have left it (I guess I perfer no credits to crediting themselves...). I mainly blame the sites that pirated everyones vb.org modifications and styles. The people who have downloaded them from those sites have little or no respect for anyone...

[Freesteyelz]

Yup. It's one of those problems that unless it hits home it's often ignored.

[Ohiosweetheart]

Well for me personally, I am sooooo very thankful that all of you put so much hard work and time into this stuff and release it here for free for non coding members like me that I always keep everything I install as is. That is the least I can do and I always click install too ;)

So some of us here do respect and appreciate all of you a lot :D It's too bad that some people are that dishonest :(

what she ^ said!

[FLMom]

I am glad I am not the only one that feels this way :)

[Shelley_c]

I've never enforced any kind of copyright upon people on both designs I've done or styles. It's more hassle than it's worth, and not to mention, like someone said it's often ignored. If by the offchance I did enforce a copyright and it was broken I would make damn sure that the culprits never used my designs again.

There's also a good chance (because it styles) they may need support/additional graphics. I would also put a stop to that also, and refuse any kind of custom work that they may need. Chances are the will need your services before you need them.

[Sean S]

well I agree with the points you made Shelley, however, keep in mind that it would be very hard to control the situation if you have offered the style/script for free download or use, as you have no control over who so far has downloaded the stuff and what site he / she is using it at. This would only be helpful if you sold the product and have kept thorough record of each individual customer.

I for one, like to put my copyright/designed by cause I want people to know more about my work and what I'm capable of doing, however, I always give the option for customers to remove them with an additional cost.

What gets me worse is not that they remove the necessary copyrights, but they replace it with another copyright claiming that they have made it. Recently I had to file a lawsuit against a client of mine who not only violated all the copyrights that were mentioned in the contract, but also claimed that his company made everything.

Overall, this is something that is very hard/costly/and time consuming to control, which is sad but true.

[Shelley_c]

I totally agree that it would be very hard to control. Afterall, if someone has gone out of their way to remove a copyright, chances of them putting it back would be difficult to accomplish. Needless to say, I like a challenge.

I totally understand why people would put/enforce a copyright on their styles/graphics. I guess, I choose not to and post in abundance to compensate for any copyright insertation. Hassle free, laziness is one of my reasons for brand free submissions. If I did enforce a copyright, I would probably embed it into a high sliced count image so that people would have to keep it in unless they wanted a broken style.

People that rip off styles/graphics etc do get me, and I think I would go that extra yard in paying to deal with the issue, only after I exhausted all free alternatives if that didn't resolve the solution.

But anyway, Try embedding the copyright into the image so it spans across multiple images. More often than not, the footer is often sliced into multiple images.

[Freesteyelz]

More often than not, the footer is often sliced into multiple images.

I'm part of the "Not" group. :D

[Shelley_c]

I'm part of the "Not" group. :D

There's always one and probably the next hundred or so which are yet to reply. :laugh:

[Freesteyelz]

Let's hope not. GO the minority! :D