Architect reused my drawings without permission

mickdw

I was doing a planning application for a client and we had a fallout over non payment. Anyway I got nothing. Then another architect completes further info and the application using my site layout on his own sheet. What should I do in this case?

Bullseye1

If he is registered with the RIAI report him. So you lodged the application and in the meantime a falling out with the client occurred??

muffler

Ah now we dont really have to take people out the back and shoot them well not yet anyhow.

@ mickdw - give the guy a ring and explain the situation to him. He may be a man of low principles or he could have been fed a cock and bull story by your ex client. Play it by ear but if he doesnt come up with some sort of compromise then you need to remind him that there is copyright/intellectual copyright on your drawings.

Poor Uncle Tom

muffler wrote: »

give the guy a ring and explain that there is copyright/intellectual copyright on your drawings.

Exactly that...

/also PM each of us with a time, date and location to teach him a lesson.......;)

mickdw

Bullseye1 wrote: »

So you lodged the application and in the meantime a falling out with the client occurred??

Yep. Client was an in law relative (asshole, it turns out).
He got planning with no alterations to my designs etc so it will be interesting to see how it plays out when it comes to building stage.

Tabnabs

There was an offshoot of a well known Dublin practice that simply deleted the original name and inserted their own and cracked on with the drawings. That was until a letter from the solicitors reminded the new crowd of the law on these matters.

It may be an option OP.

gman2k

Tabnabs wrote: »

There was an offshoot of a well known Dublin practice that simply deleted the original name and inserted their own and cracked on with the drawings. That was until a letter from the solicitors reminded the new crowd of the law on these matters.

It may be an option OP.

I worked for a start up firm a few years back in Dublin. The partners had left their previous employers, but not before making DVDs of all electronic info, dwgs, letters etc. They then stole the clients as well from the original firm!

It was interesting working on CAD files and finding the previous companies layouts with titleblocks etc still in place.

starbelgrade

gman2k wrote: »

I worked for a start up firm a few years back in Dublin. The partners had left their previous employers, but not before making DVDs of all electronic info, dwgs, letters etc. They then stole the clients as well from the original firm!

That's fairly standard practice in my experience. Most people will leave a firm without taking clients, but almost everyone leaves with a hard drive full of drawings.

Mellor

mickdw wrote: »

I was doing a planning application for a client and we had a fallout over non payment. Anyway I got nothing. Then another architect completes further info and the application using my site layout on his own sheet. What should I do in this case?

Ring him gauge the situation, and you'll either have to invoice him for the work or send him a letter telling him your solicitor will be in contact regarding copyright on the design.

gman2k

starbelgrade wrote: »

That's fairly standard practice in my experience. Most people will leave a firm without taking clients, but almost everyone leaves with a hard drive full of drawings.

Yeah, but you don't continue on with the projects in the new office with the old office's documents.
BTW, I think it's good practice to take a hard copy of certain drawings with your employers consent for portfolio purposes.
Any unauthorised copying of soft data to be removed from the office could be construed as theft!

No6

mickdw wrote: »

I was doing a planning application for a client and we had a fallout over non payment. Anyway I got nothing. Then another architect completes further info and the application using my site layout on his own sheet. What should I do in this case?

Inform the client in writing that you hold the copyright on your designs and that as they havnt paid you for your work they do not have permission to use the design until they pay for it and any additional legal costs you may incurr.

mickdw

No6 wrote: »

Inform the client in writing that you hold the copyright on your designs and that as they havnt paid you for your work they do not have permission to use the design until they pay for it and any additional legal costs you may incurr.

Yes, I think this is what I will do given that I have heard rumours that construction is starting.
Would it be wise to copy this letter to the architect also to make him think twice about any future copying of drawing throughout the project?

muffler

mickdw wrote: »

Yes, I think this is what I will do given that I have heard rumours that construction is starting.
Would it be wise to copy this letter to the architect also to make him think twice about any future copying of drawing throughout the project?

I thought the main issue was regarding the architect using your site plan.

No6

I took it that he hasn't got paid at all, perhaps i am wrong?

muffler

No6 wrote: »

I took it that he hasn't got paid at all, perhaps i am wrong?

Aye, that combined with someone using the already prepared site layout.