a fraud claims to have designed my site

jacktanner · May 14th, 2007, 13:33

I find myself in a strange predicament. Perhaps this happens to people all the time, but it's new to me: I built a site for a client about two years ago. This client just alerted me that another web design company claims that *they* built my client's site. In other words, they've included a link to my client's site in their portfolio. Not cool.

What I want, of course, is for them to stop claiming my work as their own. Moreover, I wonder if they're liable for damages. (First, their work is shoddy, and I don't want my name to be tarnished by some sort of association with their portfolio; second, they are essentially claiming that my client hired them, which is false.)

I could contact them directly and ask them to remove the link, but I don't think that's enough -- they'll just link to some other poor guy's site and claim it's their work. In fact, from a cursory look at some other links in "their" portfolio, I'm not the only one whose work they're claiming fraudulently!

What would you do in my shoes (in addition to talking to a lawyer)? Thanks for your thoughts.

VanessaJW · May 14th, 2007, 19:18

I know it's hard to see it like that, but that is actually a compliment to your work that they've done that! I'm not saying that makes it ok of course.

I think if you seek legal advice, the first thing they will ask you is whether you have asked them to remove the link, so you probably have to do that first. If it was me, I would contact them, and in a very British way, suggest that they may have accidentally included a site I created in their portfolio, and ask them to remove it, and if they won't then seek legal advice. I doubt very much you would actually be able to get damages as you would have to prove that you lost business as a result which would be pretty hard to do. Just my opinion, so don't take it as gospel!

sannbe · May 14th, 2007, 19:29

Jack, if you have a lawyer...use them....most frauds will cut and run if they are caught. You can also report this to any place you can think of doing with web design. In Addition, if they are located in the US, find out what city they are in and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Very effective. Good luck.

Daniel · May 14th, 2007, 20:50

Ask Rob to do it for you - he's very good on the legal side :o

Ryan Fait · May 19th, 2007, 02:42

I agree with Sannbe!

JacobHaug · May 19th, 2007, 20:42

Hahaha...yeah Rob is very very good on the legal side of things. He would have them pissing in their pants....lol.

Daniel · May 19th, 2007, 21:48

he scares me just by me reading it lol