My Artwork Stolen

[Chris Johnson]

Hi Guys

 

I haven't been out of the 'rendering' business for about 5 years now, since I joined Autodesk... but:

 

I got an email from some guy trying to drum up business for himself. I had no idea what he did, or who he was, so I checked out his website that was listed on his email.

And lo and behold his website contains my renderings! That he never paid for and that he never even asked to use! In essence, they are stolen:

 

The renderings are the ones on the left:

 

http://www.dymonddesignonline.com

 

I never gave any rights to any of my former clients, to convey usage rights to other parties. My contracts I used in the past, were pretty iron clad.

So I emailed him about it, and he thinks it's fine that he has the right to use them. What a PRICK!

 

What else can I do, besides threatening him with a Lawyer?

 

Chris Johnson

[3D_Rivers]

Hi Chris,

 

I would recommend you to try to talk with that guy again, even if it does not seem very much adequate, before you go to the lawyer.

Show him your contracts, and explain that you are serious abouit the issue.

The intellectual property questions are not the easyest and quickest to solve.

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you

 

Julia

3DRivers

[Brodie Geers]

I wouldn't contact him anymore. You've already got his response. I'd take it up with a lawyer. Seems like a pretty clear case.

 

-Brodie

[Devin Johnston]

I agree with Brodie sue him, by the way if your image is the top left house when you click on it the link doesn't work.

[Ismael]

Ok, the rendering; but where did he get the house design/plan from? Did he obtained them legally? If so, he might quite well has all rights to the renderings as they are part of the original marketing of the 'design' product. However, if the fellow were to peddle "Rendering" services by the said artwork as example, by all means he would be acting illegally.

Just my toughts.

[1d2d3d4d]

Why does he think he has the right to use it?

Did the guy work on the house or design?

He must feel some connection to it considering he has the floor plans, etc

 

Its kind of a tricky area IMO...Considering there is so much work that goes into building projects, sometimes you see renderings and things for the people who supplied the materials, etc...Or a person has a building in their portfolio but their scope of work was only one aspect or as a draftsman, etc...

 

I would let it go and move on personally...better the guy gets to design a house for someone...better for the overall economy...if you got paid for the original and you didnt design it, give it back to the world...