Legal Question in Technology Law in Iowa

Website Ownership

I was doing a website for a man, to make long story short he thought he could simply have someone take it over. I created it in my own name and we never discussed legal rights. Nothing is in writing. I thought I was providing a service and was free to cancel my services, there was no contract saying otherwise. I took all of the pages offline so his friend could not copy MY WORK. It is all MY WORK. No one evr helped me with it. It has always been just me. There is nothing online that relates to him. Only the url. It is a blank page that says ''NO LONGER ACTIVE''. I took off his slogan and logos as well. And I have no intention of ever using them again for anything. I am upset and am not ready to cancel my account and let them have the url. Am I in the wrong?


Asked on 5/11/09, 4:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lawrence Graves Coolidge & Graves PLLC

Re: Website Ownership

Nothing in writing means that you own the copyright in the work. However, if you were paid, the customer would have an implied license to use the work. If you have not been paid then the customer has no rights to any kind of license.

You should contact a copyright lawyer in your jurisdiction for advice specific to your circumstances (which are sketchily presented in your question). Best wishes,

LDWG

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Answered on 5/11/09, 4:11 pm


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