Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Austin, Roger" <rda AT rti.org>]

 Good ideas. I would stress that you need to be able to "prove" the
designs are your original work. This is not so simple. Most of us are
not all that good at keeping detailed records and official printouts.
Submitting copyright applications is one way to deal with this since it
enforces the legalese work. Does anyone have a system they use that
works for them and is simple to do?
 My lady always sends in copyright apps for her original drawings and
design work. This is a slight pain, but it makes it all easy if you ever
need to deal with someone copying your work. You can send in a wad of
them on one application and it is not very expensive.
 Does anyone have an idea if this type of design rip off is widespread?
I could see it as very easy to set up a business and just copy all types
of sites and sell them to unsuspecting clients. I could see that it
would be very difficult to find the sites unless you just run across
them on the web. I find it unbelievable that people wouldn't even change
the text or colors of the designs they rip off. That is bold.

Paul Jones wrote:
> 
> for what it's worth, you need not register your designs, text, or other
> intellectual property in order to claim copyright (since 1976 or so). in
> fact you need not even include a copyright claim on the item or even the
> little circled C. you do need some way to show that you did the work and
> did it first; registering is one way to show that.
> 
> i would take this tact:
> 1) contact the prinicipals of the companies involved and demand that they
> remove your copyright material in the form of a registered letter written
> by a mean lawyer (such as tom beckett ;->)
> 2) inform the press, both locally and at the home of the offender, if
> those offenders do not comply within whatever period you specify in the
> letter. see if the offender complies, if not go to next step.
> 3) write the clients of the offender advising them of the appropriation of
> your work on their behalf and inform them that you intend to seek strong
> remedies. see if the offender complies, if not go to next step.
> 4) file to pursue strong remedies. see if the offender complies, if not go
> to next step.
> 5) seek strong remedies.