Copyright stuff.

[Davey]

Say, someone steals your site layout (and no, before I begin, this hasn't happened to me, it's just something I've been really confused about since forever), and they keep the copyright notice, but change it to their name, how would you go about sorting that problem out?
And also, what about IF someone steals your layout and doesn't keep the copyright, can someone run me through the process of what can be done?

Dave.

[filburt1]

In this order:
1. Ask them politely to stop
2. Send them a cease and desist letter, preferably written by a lawyer, CC'ing their host
3. Ask their host directly to take down their site
4. If it's worth it financially, sue them

[Chris M]

@filburt - What if the copyright you have on your board is just a written one, i.e. it is not actually a copyright, you just wrote :

copyright ? 2003 "jack smith" or something?

Is it still copyrighted?

Satan

[Brad]

IIRC, Its still vaild. Hell if it wasent there would be nothing stoping you from ripping 80% or more of the sites on the internet today.

[filburt1]

Legally, anything is copyrighted from its creation.

[PixelFx]

What Filburt1 said on both accounts, I've had almost all my main layouts ripped over the last 10 years at one point or another, most of the time... it depends on the level of rip as to what I send out for info.

as for how to write copyright, you can do the following,

© 2003 - yourname - all rights reserved

© = (c) for those that don't know html

never put the word copyright and (c) next to each other use one or the other.

Under canadian law, anything you created even if you don't put a copyright statement is copyright both locally and internationally +50 years after death of creator. Us law I'm not cerntain on how it works fully but I'd guess it's similar.

Some countries have different laws of how it works. I think most people here will agree that if you like something and want to use it on your site, sending the creator, a letter asking for written permission to use it.

This is the best way to go, 9/10 times the design will usually help and respect you more for asking, Most designers I know including my self are pretty good about it, trying to help people learn, aka what goes around comes around. This Reason vbulletin.org is such an asset to the vbulletin community, as is vBulletintemplates.com and vbskinz.org, are great sites, and very helpful from those I've had the pleasure of meeting so far.

For site rips,
Whats' a ++++ off is if some takes your site, doesn't give you credit, removes your credit, keeps your site internal links active so they suck your bandwith, but put their copyright on your work and change the links enough to get their own content up.

as to Animu-loo yeah it's hard to make orgional sites these days for new designers... I use pen and paper to storyboard most of my layouts, then ultra edit to hash out some tables, and golive & photoshop, with 3d tools for orgional art and code when ever possible. When I don't have a lot of time, I buy a template, and post credit etc...

Some simple rules to follow if you like someones site and want to use something similar. Or their code,

1) Ask for if you can have written permission to use content,
if the designer says no, respect her/his wishes, chances are the designer may still offer help or support. And see the final product..

2) If you see something cool on a site (like vbhome script from teck) or the very cool why didn't I think of it but is a life saver thank you in one breath "Really Big Template Editor" by Filburt1, most designers are happy to know you like their work >

am I rambling, or venting, I think between rips and people removing copyright I've had my share. I usually send a letter staying take it down now, if someone doesn't ask. If they are rude I send one more letter with letter of copyright infringment to ISP their home ISP/and web host.

usually with in one business day, and a fax proving you own the work, most hosts will remove the sites for you.. Thats usually enough.

Most important be nice. Even if someone rips you be nice, and smile, and keep it legal. That way you don't get cought up with libel comments. Legal Games online can cost a lot and are a huge waste of time.

Wow this turned into essay almost