copyright on design

A while back I designed 3 websites, one for the umbrella company and the others for two of its sub companies...by umbrella I mean "main" not actual umbrellas...
Anyway, besides the fact that they only paid me for two of the sites (because the one company liquidated), they then hired a cheap and nasty company to maintain it. This cheap & nasty company removed my discreet text link at the bottom & put their own link there, insinuating that they designed it, when in fact they are merely maintaining it.
I think that's really cheeky that this company is now getting credit (and an inbound link) for my work!
What do you guys think of that? Has anyone else had any similar experiences?

That really stinks Roxane. I have had it happen where the owner takes over the maintance. Usually at that point, since I know the owners are going to make a mess of it, I don't want my design credit there anymore...

I think you have a right to request that they reinsert, design by Roxane and see what happens.

You're absolutely right! I never thought of it that way...already they have messed up the design as some elements don't align properly, bad spacing etc. So I suppose it would be bad advertising for me, but it's a bit annoying 'cause it was a decent design start with.

I get annoyed to see a good design fall apart too! Oh well...

They are in the fault; you could legally pursue them. Copyright is assumed on its own in most countries; you do not need to post a notice. If someone pretends to copyright your work, you have more than enough grounds to get that removed.

If you lived in the US, you'd have the capability to buy your own island with the earnings you could make out of a court case. And you thought America was sue happy... It's nothing but good!

My own island hey? Damn I wish I lived in America...hahaha

I would at least request that they remove their statement stating they created the site, or change it to site maintained by: their crappy company.

what is the site?

Site not posted, she is just talking about her problem/issue.