Icomm - Copyright a trap on web
The following article was published in the Birmingham Post, September 2007. The text has been edited for use on this website.
Companies could be caught up in a copyright nightmare if they do not ensure website ownership, says a Midland IT expert.
Leading Birmingham service and support outfit Icomm Technologies is advising SMEs across the region to ensure that they are the sole owners.
Ian Callens, of Icomm, said: “A website is an essential business tool for SMEs.
Ian Callens, Icomm Sales Manager
We’re regularly urging many of our customers to invest in a well developed and presented online presence.
“One of the most important, and often overlooked, aspects of getting a website designed however is the issue of copyright; who owns the finished website - is it you or your web designer?”
Mr Callens said Icomm staff knew of incidents where Birmingham companies had been "burnt" by copyright issues.
“Many firms hire an individual or company to design their website and assume that on completion they own it. This is rarely the case.
“We’ve witnessed a few examples recently where businesses have approached us after losing their website to their last design ccompany when they've decided to change designers.”
Icomm is now encouraging SMEs in the West Midlands to draw up simple contracts or agreements when outsourcing their website design.
Mr Callens urged them: "Make sure your contract or agreement with your design firm includes a clause that assigns the ownership of the firm's work to your business.
“This agreement must be in writing, ensuring that the assignment clause gives complete, unquestioned ownership over all aspects of the website.”
If you require any more information on website copyright please contact our Sales Team on 0121 248 7931.
2007.10.03 (AH)
