My Dilemma
Not because this is mid-May or after Easter, but because it is story time. And do we have a story to tell…wonder how many would have responded. We are going to link a short survey. It is not mandatory, so there is no need to stress.
My dilemma story
A couple of years ago, a client of mine introduces me to a west coast company. It was a huge company, and its website was several years old. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) wanted to update the website. We discuss the site and went over its features and functions. I explained my design process and gave her a soft quote.
A few days later, I called the CEO. We discuss the re-design. I provided a quote and sent out a contract. A few weeks later, the CEO called and advised they were ready. The CEO introduced me to the marketing director. We would work really close on this project. We would speak two to three times every week.
It took about six weeks to complete the design. The marketing director had to present the site to the executive board. I was placed on a video conference. Many questions rang out from that meeting. Fortunately, most of the questions were very familiar to me. After answering all the questions, the executive board thank me for my design and was very interested in launching the site.
The CEO would send me a personal “thank you” notice. Life was great!!
The Launch went smoothly. The CEO asked me to host and support the site. The marketing director would provide me with content and images. I provided monthly performance reports. I oversaw search engine optimization, google analytics, and security. The CEO wanted to meet me, so I was invited to the Companies Summer Party.
Beginning of the dilemma
Two weeks before, I was to fly to the west coast. The marketing director told me that the CEO had sold the company. The company would pay me for the next four months and the new company would take down the website. It was a great design, and I was really proud of the relationship that I had developed.
Working hard to showcase the site, it was mentioned several times on Linkedin, Google +, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Ads. I received many compliments about the site. Truly was one of our best designs, not that all our projects are special. However, the short-lived relationship made this project truly special.
The DILEMMA
A few weeks ago after the site was taken down, I noticed that one of my gravity forms licenses was being used on a foreign site. It was my design for the West Coast Company. The only changes on the site were the company number and email. I called the number and left a message. I text and left a message. I emailed to find out “what was going on?”.
A fellow web design agency is using my client’s site and pawning it off as theirs. Yes, the design is the property of my client and not mine. No legal violations. No contract violations. Morally it is not correct, but that is about it. It did bother me to no end, I reached out to the marketing manager, who advised the web designer was the company’s in-house web designer/graphic artist. Go figure…
I have yet to get a response… My dilemma is whether should I put the site on social media. Should I view this as a compliment to my work? I am assuming that someone is passing off my work as theirs, which is a good thing. Just does not feel right … my dilemma. My dilemma. My dilemma.
Image courtesy of Nathan Dumlao.
JDS WebDesign is a Web Design and Brand Marketing Agency located in Marietta, Georgia. We create AWESOME on line presence for Start-ups and Influential People/Organizations. To learn more about us or how we can help you and your organization, you can contact us or schedule a meeting.
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