The case of a company using my copywriting free of charge for 3.5 years continues:
This is purely aimed at assisting other creatives. It’s not directed personally at Piped Up Limited or its staff members but serves as a cautionary tale for small creative businesses throughout Derby, Nottingham, and beyond, followed by some tips to help avoid a similar predicament.
It focuses on an ongoing legal case I have with Piped Up Limited. This case revolves around a dispute concerning the unauthorised use of copyrighted written content. I originally created the copywriting for the client’s website, but despite completing the work, payment was not received, and the content remained live on their site for over three and a half years (see WayBack Machine here to see my content on their site, largely unchanged to this day).
The client later claimed that another company had replaced or augmented the content, yet my original writing was still in use. The judge set the case aside to allow the defendant to respond, but there is strong evidence that the original work has been used without compensation, prompting me to seek payment, potentially directed to charity as a compromise, in line with responsible business practices.
For other creatives, this case underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property and ensuring clear contracts and payment terms from the outset. Creatives should always obtain signed agreements specifying ownership rights and payment terms, as well as keep records of project milestones and delivered work. Using watermarking or partial delivery methods until payment is confirmed can also help prevent unauthorised use. By taking these steps, creatives can safeguard their work and minimise disputes, ensuring they are fairly compensated for their contributions.
Here is Piped Up Ltd’s latest letter to me:
And my response is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j9jHxiZ51v_Zg64tj1gzz9tJ1qWPjTx9yQ-Vw5Fq20g/edit?usp=sharing
