Company stolen my website idea/layout design & text/graphics!

[Mark-UK]

A company I used to do some work for have copied a site of mine word for word virtually except the t and c's etc. Thing is it was a template I bought THEN modified it a lot to how it is now.

The wording is exact the same on most of the pages and they even copied my format and changes from the templates original style etc, all they have done is change some colours.

They have refused to do anything as they say they bought the template too but its so obvious they stole my site as they knew about it from when I worked with them before.

Its only a small site with a few pages, they have even used the same logo/graphic style I did with the same text in the logo.
He has stated tough it's a template and yes it was but my site is now different to the template and he has copied my style and layout and text as well as the graphics.

Is there anything I can do?

 

[jholden]

I fear this may be a case of tough luck! Sorry.

Unless you have design rights over the website and logos, by this I mean trade marks etc then there is probably not a lot you can do.

It is not uncommon for some web design businesses to do this.

Jason

 

[OldWelshGuy]

If there is a chacne that consumers could get confused then you can claim passing off. He has also possibly infringed your IP (intellectual property) rights.

BUT it is going to soct a lot of time effort and money to prove it.

 

[An Oasis]

Hit them in the nuts

 

[Mark-UK]

Its a lead generation company and they have copied my own lead generation site I used to send them leads from.

 

[ExpandOnline]

http://www.copyscape.com/respond.php

 

Name and sahme my friend name and shame

 

[TONY LEE]

Sorry to hear that. I used to work in a trademark agency in China, but I'm not quite sure about the situations in UK. Here in China, in most cases, if a trademarke (logo included) is not registered, or well-knowed by people, any one would use it, and have it registered as their own.
So, mind your cheese!

 

[Jeff-Smith]

If you were working for another company and that other comapny paid for this template and paid you to work on the template, the itellectual proprety belongs to the company for whom you were working, not you.

If you did all this work after you left the company, that's a different matter altogether.

However, if you "name and shame" them they are in a position to sue you, so don't do that, you do not have that right even if what they have done is wrong.

Here's a article on copyright law that you might find useful, it's not just books, it's web contnet too:

Copyright law makes it illegal to photocopy books

 

[Mat_D]

If both sites are live at this moment, I'm sure there's something you can do. Links might help.