S
signsintheyard
Guest
What is the name of your state? PA
I own and operate a Yard Sign Rental Business for about 3 years now and all my signs are designed and drawn by myself. Acouple weeks ago I had a local competitor of mine call and say I infringed on his copyrights of two sets of Signs I currently have. I was confused because all my signs have been designed by myself and not copied. The owner told me he had to confront me about the situation because he has franchisee's that have signed a contract with him and in the contract it states copyright infringement will be dealt with in 30 days time. So the owner had my signs brought to his attention and he had to act on it. Even though I don't think I infringed, one or more of his franchisee's feel my signs are the same. The owner said he wanted to avoid court and lawyers and that if we met with him we could work out a solution without paying legal fees. I didn't want to cause I felt I did no wrong. So I consulted a copyright lawyer and he feels I haven't infringed on their designs. The owner of the local shop keeps calling and bugging me so I met with him to discuss the matter thinking we could settle the problem. Well, the meeting turned into him telling me I couldn't use any signs that he currently or in the future planned on doing and if I didn't stop using the same signs (cows, chickens) that he would bring me to court which he would do. He then told me he was planning on doing a new set of signs that I have been planning for awhile now. He knew I was doing the signs because I had a sentence of "coming soon, pigs" on my website. It was left at that I had to stop doing the signs he had. I felt like he was bulling me. Even though I feel that copyright infringement isn't the main issue with him and competition is, he will still spend money and bring me to court. Now, he has added Pig Signs to his business and has added a photograph of HIS to his website and I feel like he is doing that only to ruin my business reputation to make it look like I am copying even though I have had my Pig Signs planned for months. Is this slander, libel or defemation for him to quickly jump on his signs before mine are done to make it look like I am coping him once I have my Pig Signs done and post them on my website?? Also, what can I do to stand my ground with the copyright issue without having to go to court. He says it is my burden of proving I didn't have access to his Sign pictures when they were posted on his website. But I know that I didnt copy because the photo of the signs on his website weren't very good pictures to even copy from!!
Help!
Thanks!
signsintheyard
I own and operate a Yard Sign Rental Business for about 3 years now and all my signs are designed and drawn by myself. Acouple weeks ago I had a local competitor of mine call and say I infringed on his copyrights of two sets of Signs I currently have. I was confused because all my signs have been designed by myself and not copied. The owner told me he had to confront me about the situation because he has franchisee's that have signed a contract with him and in the contract it states copyright infringement will be dealt with in 30 days time. So the owner had my signs brought to his attention and he had to act on it. Even though I don't think I infringed, one or more of his franchisee's feel my signs are the same. The owner said he wanted to avoid court and lawyers and that if we met with him we could work out a solution without paying legal fees. I didn't want to cause I felt I did no wrong. So I consulted a copyright lawyer and he feels I haven't infringed on their designs. The owner of the local shop keeps calling and bugging me so I met with him to discuss the matter thinking we could settle the problem. Well, the meeting turned into him telling me I couldn't use any signs that he currently or in the future planned on doing and if I didn't stop using the same signs (cows, chickens) that he would bring me to court which he would do. He then told me he was planning on doing a new set of signs that I have been planning for awhile now. He knew I was doing the signs because I had a sentence of "coming soon, pigs" on my website. It was left at that I had to stop doing the signs he had. I felt like he was bulling me. Even though I feel that copyright infringement isn't the main issue with him and competition is, he will still spend money and bring me to court. Now, he has added Pig Signs to his business and has added a photograph of HIS to his website and I feel like he is doing that only to ruin my business reputation to make it look like I am copying even though I have had my Pig Signs planned for months. Is this slander, libel or defemation for him to quickly jump on his signs before mine are done to make it look like I am coping him once I have my Pig Signs done and post them on my website?? Also, what can I do to stand my ground with the copyright issue without having to go to court. He says it is my burden of proving I didn't have access to his Sign pictures when they were posted on his website. But I know that I didnt copy because the photo of the signs on his website weren't very good pictures to even copy from!!
Help!
Thanks!
signsintheyard