North Carolina, USA
I am registrant of a domain name used by a non-profit organization. I provided the domain name and hosting service to the organization for an annual fee, and volunteered services as web site designer, developer, and web site administrator. I also volunteered services as designer, creator, and publisher of a newsletter for the organization.
The organization president terminated my services so the organization could gain "complete" and "sole" control of the web site and newsletter.
Now, the organization is using a similar domain name to mine (the only difference is two dashes in the wording), and they have uploaded past newsletters, that I designed and created, from my web site to their web site.
I received no compensation for my work or creations. I was not an organization employee, and the work I performed was not on a "work for hire" basis. Do I not own the copyrights to the web site and newsletter?
Can the organization legally confiscate the domain name, web site, and newsletters that I created?
The organization has not registered its name as a trademark. Would my application for registration of the organization name as a trademark protect my interests?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
I am registrant of a domain name used by a non-profit organization. I provided the domain name and hosting service to the organization for an annual fee, and volunteered services as web site designer, developer, and web site administrator. I also volunteered services as designer, creator, and publisher of a newsletter for the organization.
The organization president terminated my services so the organization could gain "complete" and "sole" control of the web site and newsletter.
Now, the organization is using a similar domain name to mine (the only difference is two dashes in the wording), and they have uploaded past newsletters, that I designed and created, from my web site to their web site.
I received no compensation for my work or creations. I was not an organization employee, and the work I performed was not on a "work for hire" basis. Do I not own the copyrights to the web site and newsletter?
Can the organization legally confiscate the domain name, web site, and newsletters that I created?
The organization has not registered its name as a trademark. Would my application for registration of the organization name as a trademark protect my interests?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?