Copyrights question

[Yowser]

Another question for those who build sites for clients. Do you give them the copyright of your design or hold onto ownership of that right? And what is your reasoning for doing it the way you do?

[Brandon]

Well I dont think you could, since there paying for it, so it would be in the rights of the clients. And if someone was copying there layout and you have the copyrights, its your problem.

[Yowser]

Well, I know there are people who do it both ways.

Personally, I hold the copyright and would charge extra if the client insisted on doing it the other way. For one thing, I can't be sure that the client would be willing to battle in the event of an infringement and if they don't but the copyright belongs to them, I can't do anything to stop the other designer from copying my work. Another thing, if the copyright belongs to me, I can maintain some control over what can and can't happen to a site that has my name on it as the designer.

[Jas]

Good points rooted.. I think its a good idea to charge extra for the rights.

[Brandon]

But alot of more advanced users may want the copyrights to resell or whatever.

[ipodman]

You have to in my view, they are buying a design that you have made form them, Custom designs. I do ask that my name is displayed on the bottom of the site. But it is not mandatory.

[NetBusinessTalk]

I withhold the copyright, but they can buy it for me for an extra cost. I usually allow them to buy the copyright for an additional 40% of the cost of the web design work.