stained glass window ripoff!

[emmagreeny]

A few years ago I designed,made and fitted a large stained glass window for a crematorium.Someone came to my shop and said they had seen one exactly the same in another crematorium. I feal that they shouldn't be able to use my design without my permission.Is this the case or does the person who commisioned the window now own the rights to it?

[omblod]

Unless you specifically gave over the rights to your design to the commissioner, the design will remain your intellectual property and as such is protected by copyright. You don't have to apply for copyright; it's automatically granted to the creator of an artwork or design - you don't have to state that it's copyright or display the � symbol. You might be advised to take legal action so check out the link to the Design Council website for further info; http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/webdav/servlet/XRM
?Page/@id=6047&Session/@id=D_WR9CFAjk1JptqfYjF5Ke&Document[@id%3D1108]/Chapter/@id=0

[emmagreeny]

Thankyou,thankyou,thankyou omblod. I had convinced myself that I had no case. Over the years lots of my designs have been stolen,but this perticular window design is my signiture piece and I don't think I can bear the thought of it been replicated by anyone but me.

[becks]

How will you prove you did it though? Sorry might be being really daft here but if you say you did it - the other person who made it might say it was their design first and you copied it?? what a cool job too by the way!

[emmagreeny]

fortunately the window was so big, I had to keep a record of everything that was agreed on. It was a large task with a large price tag. I even took photos of the design laid out on the floor outside(dating evidence) and there was quite a lot of press coverage.I also still have the original letter asking me to design the window. It was 7years ago that the window was installed and the offending window can only have been installed after that. Is that enough evidence do you think? I'm sure I could come up with more evidence if I rummaged round the office.I have spoken to the company that paid for the original and they too are not happy, although I think they believe they own the design as I have seen poor imatations in other places they own(stick on lead and coloured film YUKKK!)

[omblod]

It sounds like you've more than enough evidence to prove the originality of your design. As a designer myself, I know how annoying it can be when someone steals your ideas. Good luck if you decide to sue their ass!