Suing client - pull website?

Copyright under my design and keywords

[erlandc]

Hi there,

I built and optimized a website and never got the promised 10% of sales. Have achieved a #1 ranking and the client is making money from my services.

I have control of it and have since taken out my meta tags and denied all robots. There is copyright stated on the main page with my business name.

Am sending a Registered Letter demanding payment.

Do I have the right to pull the site? What steps should I take now?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

EC

[Liane]

I don't know the legalities of what you have done/are doing ... but if I were your client and had paid you to buiild my site, the first call I would make would be to my lawyer.

By denying robots, and removing meta tags, you have in effect committed an act of vandalism and destroyed their business at the same time. Personally, I would seek to hold you 100% financially accountable.

The fact that you claim they owe you money is a separate issue. You have every right to sue them for monies owed ... but destroying their business is not the way to get what is owed to you.

Just my opinion though. As I said, I don't know the legalities.

[martinibuster]

It's more businesslike to consult an attorney and have them send a love letter on your behalf. This is business, not a game of monopoly where you kick the pieces off the board if someone's cheating.

[pageoneresults]

I built and optimized a website and never got the promised 10% of sales.

One of the major pitfalls of operating under a performance based business model.

[erlandc]

The business in question is a part-time one. The client has a full-time job making very good money and the website was to enable this person to be "one's own boss", however, there was a lack of input to do so.

Even so, I understand your opinions and respect them. My work was done for nothing.

What about the copyright with my busines name on the site? I spoke the lawyer a couple hours ago and he said all the work contained on the site is mine.

I will leave the site as it is and will inform the client with the "love letter". The client is not too concerned with the site anyway. It's just a way to make extra cash.

The "love letter" is being endited by another lawyer friend as we speak.

Tomorrow, I will be contacting another lawyer friend that is well known on the 'net.

I will keep you posted and thank you again for your speedy replies and time!

EC

[jessejump]

The answer to all these non-payment questions is always to get a lawyer's advice.
You're running a business now, people have to act like businesspeople, not hobbyists.