SIGNING your websites when doone...do you or can you???

[somdow]

when ever i finish a site or any arwork for that matter, i always put somewhere..."created by SOMDOW" or developed...etc.....

but i have run into some clients that prefer if you dont add it....so when that happens what do you do?

do you charge em a bit extra for it?

[philler]

That's a pretty difficult subject to deal with.
As part of my study I'm having to write a 30 page (approx.) research paper on copyrights in multimedia so I've been getting into the subject quite a bit.

Before you design a web site (or application, graphics or anything else for that matter) you have to draw a crystal clear contract, this will avoid a lot of problems in the future for starters. Even if you're not an official business or company and just design web sites for people to earn a bit of pocket money you might still want to draw some type of contract which makes clear who will own the web site once finished. If you are going to hand over the copyrights of the web site to the people you designed it for, hell yeah charge them extra, big time.
Afterall you have to remember that you are the one who designed the web site (I'm just using a web site as example but it applies to other stuff too, of course), you are the one that did the coding, you constructed something from scratch, ie. you provided a service so basically you own the design, the coding (any custom coded web applications that is - you can't really own HTML or PHP of course unless customised into something unique and even then it's still a bit of a grey area).
I personally would always state clearly that you want the web site to remain under your "copyright", this a good thing because it proves that you designed the web site (for references etc.).

I don't see why clients wouldn't want "designed by..." included somewhere. Defenitely include something like this in the meta tags or add html/php comments in your script. Also adding something small at the bottom of web sites shouldn't be that big of a deal so I don't really see why the clients are so fussy about it. If you they really refuse to do this then you should charge them extra because you have to remember (in my case anyway) that when you see a brilliant web site you take a look at who designed it, so such a link at the bottom of the pages gets you publicity which could lead to new clients.

Again, very important is to come to an agreement (written on paper and signed by both you and the client) before you start the project they employed you for.

Here are some good web sites that might help you out on the subject.
http://www.whatiscopyright.org
http://www.law.cornell.edu/treaties/berne/overview.html
http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/mmfruse.htm
http://bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/webbuilder/copyright.html

[Digitalosophy]

Na man you can't charge extra for it IMO.

The client is paying you for a service, you have no right to really complain if they prefer you don't to have your site's tag on there.

But like advised above make the agreement before the site starts :thumb:

[SlowRoasted]

I would say that you should be able to do it. Look at clothing for example, dont they keep tags on them? Cars have logos on them. Many different products have info on them about who made it.

[berkoWitZ]

I do what philler said, just tell them before I start anything, its in the contract, thats all, its very important to clear everything before the project its started...

[DariusMonsef]

I don't think you have any right to put created by on the site. Most times the work you create is for the client, so all that work is copyrighted by them not you. And if you are to use the clothing example... A t-shirt is most often not constructed by GAP in their factory, it is created someplace else and then gap puts it's name on it... You don't see GAP, created by crappy 3rd World Factory...

It's totally up to the client, but most often they are happy enough with your work they don't mind advertising a little for you.

[berkoWitZ]

yes for example the baseball balls used in the MLB are made here my country and u dont see in a ball "made in Costa Rica" ;P


It's totally up to the client, but most often they are happy enough with your work they don't mind advertising a little for you.


most of the times I just tell the client im going to "sign" their site and they dont care as long as the site its good of course :)

BTW, ur footer sucks Ethan :P

[DariusMonsef]

I love you to Berky :love:

[wizard]

yes for example the baseball balls...:lol:
I love it when people say "baseball balls." Sorry. :trout:

Anyway, the question has already pretty much been answered... ask the client if it's okay to place your "sig" on it. And no, you shouldn't charge extra.

[berkoWitZ]

lol, sorry I dont know other way to say it..... just baseball´s :puzzled: ..............argh! I hate u all! :m:

:P

[Yeldarb]

I'd say when you're negotiating the contract, say your price is a bit higher and then give a "discount" if they let you put your name in small print at the bottom rather than charging extra if they don't.

[mariofan]

why put your name on it? does the ipod have ive signed on it - no? do nike adverts have there genius directors names on them - no? etc etc.

I think adding your name to a site seriously gives it a amateur feel...

:mario: THIS POST WAS CREATED BY MARIOFAN ©2004

[Fact]

why put your name on it? does the ipod have ive signed on it - no? do nike adverts have there genius directors names on them - no? etc etc.

I think adding your name to a site seriously gives it a amateur feel...

:mario: THIS POST WAS CREATED BY MARIOFAN ©2004
if you notice on some flash sites which have been done perfeclty with the coolest animations e.g.. , you will see that the company/person do put there name onit , and the work they do for other sites are incredible, not only that , it promotes business , ill post some links later :P

[T-O]

when ever i finish a site or any arwork for that matter, i always put somewhere..."created by SOMDOW" or developed...etc.....

but i have run into some clients that prefer if you dont add it....so when that happens what do you do?

do you charge em a bit extra for it?


Yes, Because your my is my adversiting, people see a nice site. They could want to let one build by the same maker. Thus me, and if that small link isn't there he is actually stealing jobs. There for he must pay for money that i could be making.

[Ψ]

why put your name on it? does the ipod have ive signed on it - no? do nike adverts have there genius directors names on them - no? etc etc.

I think adding your name to a site seriously gives it a amateur feel...

:mario: THIS POST WAS CREATED BY MARIOFAN ©2004


but thier logo is thier signature.. isnt it?? wel the logo is thier for people to see who it was made by rite??

[somdow]

**** lol all you guys have/make a great point. the whole way im reading post by post and im like yeas that sounds right, then i read the other one and im like hmmm that sound right too lol....

i feel you all, my problem is that i usually work under someone else :-/ and rarely for myself....altho i like the 1st idea about adding the html//comments on the code to atleast show that i did do it/some of it

best i think i could do....thanks fellas

[amitgeorge]

i say the best way would be to insert a hidden reference ... like a small image (almost invisible).... and in the source code. you can define your tag. but this is specifically for html....

from *some* clients perspective .... there is some racial predjudice floadting arround the the client's client may be turned off by seeing the authors name etc

[DDD]

I usually put my name in either the meta tags, or commented in the code some where where it is harmless. But you do not have the right to put your name on it IMO. I have clients that I dont even put on my portfolio. They have asked me not to. ANd I dont. I may just put down that Ihave done work for that company but do not specifically list the url or the work. It works that way sometimes.

[they_played_tri]

Incorporate your tag into your artwork. Subliminal almost. Even when i take photographs and enhance through PS i will always use a small brush set to lighten, and tag in a small unoticable area.

[somdow]

lol ill figure out a way lol but yes...back ini the days i used to hide within flash a hidden picture of myself when ever i did something for someone lol

i made it a hidden button and when pressed BOOM my pretty mug was in there lol looking right at you

[DDD]

if you did that to my site I would fire you....lol. Just put it in the meta tags, or source. That helps your search engine ranking anyway.

[somdow]

if you did that to my site I would fire you....lol. Just put it in the meta tags, or source. That helps your search engine ranking anyway.

lol never learned bout meta tags....i know what they do i think but hmm.... maybe i should read up on it...n e ideas as to the best place to begin?