I was recently dismissed from a job as a webmaster for a small college textbook store. Since my release, they have redesigned their website yet they have failed to remove my name as author of their web pages. Do I have a case for a lawsuit? As things now stand, they are claiming I am the author of their now less than stellar site.
2007-02-10 04:38:13 · 5 answers · asked by John M 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I should clarify, the site was completely changed since I left and they are claiming I am the author of something I DIDN'T create. Therefor, they cannot say I created it and then left. It was changed AFTER I left, but my name is still there. I have sent a complaint email to them. Thanks all!
2007-02-10 04:57:02 · update #1
In order to sue you have to have damages... either monetary, physical, or emotional. You cannot show any monetary loss as a result of someone seeing your name on a "less than stellar" site, you have no basis to sue. It is, after all, just your opinion, and if you do sue them and I worked on their side I would line up 19 people in the blink of an eye who would be willing to testify it's an improvement and not a detriment to your reputation.
(Not looking to argue here, just pointing out what you're up against.)
Send them a demand letter, certified mail, that your name be taken off the web page within 5 days of receipt of the demand, and if this is not complied with you will be contacting an attorney for legal remedies. That should do it. Bluffing will usually work.. :)
2007-02-10 04:45:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have you asked them to remove your name? I'd try that first.
If they actually refuse, then you have a pretty clear case to get a cease-and-desist order granted against them in your favor. It's a factual issue here that's not disputable.
The longer this goes, you have potential defamation and lost profits for your future, but you have an obligation to address it now, given you know the issue exists.
2007-02-10 04:44:17 · answer #2 · answered by Chris 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, because it's not your property. When you work for a place, unless you sign an agreement stating otherwise, anything you create or develop belongs to them.
2007-02-10 04:47:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, indeed. Look up the Lanham Act. False attribution. Taken very seriously as it's considered to be a form of fraud (and fraud has criminal, as well as civil, penalties).
2007-02-10 09:35:10 · answer #4 · answered by lesroys 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Before filing a suit, I would ask them to remove your name.
2007-02-10 04:41:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋