Ask Slashdot: What To Do When Another Dev Steals Your Work and Adds Their Name?

An anonymous reader writes "I have had an interesting situation arise where I built some web apps for a client about 2 years ago. I have no longer been working with the client and a new developer has taken over purely for maintenance work. Currently I have been looking for new work and have used the said apps as part of my portfolio. During one interview I was informed that I not telling the truth about building the apps and I was then shown the source of a few JS files. It seems the new developer had put a copyright header on them, removed my name as the author and put his own. Now this is grey territory as it the client who owns the source, not the contracting developer. It put me on my back foot and I had to start explaining to interviewers that the developer stole the work and branded it. I feel it makes me look like a fool, having to defend my position in an interview with a possible client and I feel I had lost the chance of directing the outcome of the interview. I have cut the apps from my portfolio, however they are some of my best work and a real testament to my skills. I decided to cut my loss and move on, I am not looking for a fight or any unnecessary heartache. So what you do in my situation?"

Comments

Infidel defilers.

[Anonymous Coward]

They shall all drown in lakes of blood. Now they will know why they are afraid of the dark. Now they will learn why they fear the night.

Re:Infidel defilers.

[geminidomino]

No, Cohen's response would be "Hot water, good dentistry, and shoft lavatory paper." ;)

linus? is that you?

[decora]

the sco trial is over man. you just had a bad dream, that's all.

I got nothing

[Anrego]

That sounds like a shitty situation, my condolences :(

I suspect the lawyer route is probably a bad idea, but I'd be really curious what a lawyer would have to say on the subject (at least here in Canada we have "moral" rights that dictate among other things an authors ownership of his work (even when it's "work for hire").

Re:I got nothing

[Nerdfest]

Well, there's only one answer then. He needs to have him killed. It's probably cheaper than hiring a lawyer anyway.

Re:I got nothing

[Xyrus]

Well, there's only one answer then. He needs to have him killed. It's probably cheaper than hiring a lawyer anyway.

An assassin is merciful. He/she will only deprive you of your life. A lawyer shows no such mercy and will kill you slowly over a number of years while destroying everything around you that you hold dear.

Re: Get a letter from your original client

[_xanthus_47]

You mean "Google" career advice stuff?

Re:Ah Slashdot: Reap what you sow

[Anonymous Coward]

You spelled "Uwe Boll" wrong...

Re: Get a letter from your original client

[JustOK]

Bing!