website redesign but not by same designer ?!

Originally posted by: keen

hi all, I have a survey/ market research survey-ONLY   site  and before I pay to turn it into a full eCOM site in 2007 , I want to change a few things on it (have the Mini graphic out, etc) .

However, I can not use the same webdesigner  or her hosting. The domain name/Control Panel , etc ,  are  still with me,  with the Registrar respectively .  The webdesigner was just  administering the site for me.

That's fine, as long as you're in control of the hosting, you can cut them out of the loop. Even if you didn't have control, it'd be easy to switch to another host and designer. The old designer doesn't really get a say in the matter just like if you switched plumbers.

Can I just engage a new designer to take  over the site and change a bit of graphics, code, etc  without the old one ever finding out  or do I have to  ask the old one's    "permission"  ?

You shouldn't really have to ask 'permission' however unless you've specifically received copyright ownership over the graphics, etc, then the designer still owns it. Get them to sign you over copyright before you make any changes, then once you have it, you are free to do what you want.

Is there a "magical  locking key"  that the outgoing one   does hold  ?

There shouldn't be but make sure they are not doing any sly spying on you such as logging your visitors or form submissions. I noticed when one of my clients switched designers to myself, their old designer had put some code into their form submission script that would forward all emails sent through the site to themselves.

How much would a revamp cost (adding a new graphic , some more text and an extra page showing a PDF flyer)?

Feel free to email me at phil [at] netinspired.co.uk (remove spaces and replace [at] with @) with details of what you're after and I'd be happy to run you up a no-obligation detailed quote.

Thank  you,

webmaster@smartceleb.co.uk

the  troublesome site   

  http://smartCELEB.com

Hi Keen

When you say

Is there a "magical locking key" that the outgoing one does hold ?

They should only be passwords and username that you can change in your Control Panel and Domain name Registrar account

And from my understanding if you have paid for the design work done on your site or done it yourself you own it

So yes you could have someone else come in and work on your site design

Hope this helps

Mark

P.S Oh Yes Web Designer normally work for around £30 - £75 and hour but this is dependent on the type of job

------------------------
Website Solutionx Plus is Here

www.websitesolutionsplus.com

Just because you have paid a web designer to create your website does not mean that you own the creation or the copyright. The same goes for paying a wedding photographer, the photographer usually owns the copyright for the photos. This subject was discussed in a earlier thread: www.startups.co.uk/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=134298
------------------------
Paul - www.awebapart.com - 'a web apart'
create, update your website today - the online professional site builder

Since it sounds like you are unsure about copyright, ownership, branding, trademark and licensing issues regarding website design I would also suggest that you investigate these same issues related to your t-shirt business, especially if you intend to create and sell t-shirts with 'Robbie Williams' on them. Luckily this is good timing since the Brand Licensing 2006 exhibition, Olympia is on 4-5 Oct: www.brandlicensingexpo.com

The subject of how much it costs to lawfully put celebs on t-shirts was also discussed in an earlier thread:
www.startups.co.uk/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=129279

The last thing you want is to create a load of Robbie Williams t-shirts then be told by either his licensing company, or another t-shirt company who owns an exclusive license, that you cannot sell them.
------------------------
Paul - www.awebapart.com - 'a web apart'
create, update your website today - the online professional site builder

Hi Paul

Thanks for the heads up I was unaware of this and that was a really informative tread

All of the Web Designer I work with allows you the right to the creation or the copyright as standard

I just checked

But now knowing this it is something I will always check on

This leads on to an interesting question

What other areas of starting up a business need careful inspection

I know all areas need careful inspection but some things are not as obvious as they seem

Like product or idea patenting

Any thoughts or views

Mark

------------------------
Website Solutionx Plus is Here

www.websitesolutionsplus.com

Yep, you will have more chance of getting away with 'Robbie let me entertain you' or just 'let me entertain you' and it will save you thousands in licensing costs!

Personally I haven't found the need to apply for patents in my business yet (software, web design), although I do have to be aware of patenting issues so that my business does not infringe patents. My general understanding of 'idea patenting' is that you cannot patent ideas, you can only patent implementations of ideas.
------------------------
Paul - www.awebapart.com - 'a web apart'
create, update your website today - the online professional site builder

Hi - We would be happy to have a look at the site for you and go through any changes you need and then send you a quote.  Just email us at sales@ampmgraphics.com with what you would like changing and obviously we would need access to the site.

If a client of ours wanted to go elsewhere we would certainly allow them access to the files so they could use another designer.  Even if it was within our rights to keep the copyright of the site, it doesnt seem fair or right to not allow them full access and copyrights.  That's just how we would work.

Feel free to email with any questions etc.

Pauline

am:pm graphics

Logo Design - Stationery - Flyers - Web - Print - Business Packages available. Contact us for a quote.

• sales@ampmgraphics.com
  
• http://www.ampmgraphics.com