Posted by Ted Margulis on February 01, 1998 at 20:34:06:
I design giftware items. I contracted a license with a Los Angeles
manufacturer to produce several of my designs. He agreed to a written
contract that called for royalty payments to me. He paid me for several
months and then said he was discontinuing the item. Six years later, I
found out that he lied to me and has been making and selling my items to
stores around the US. Now he says, through his attorney, "that I didn't formally
register a copyright. I didn't register the designs (and they aren't patentable)
and I thought that by supplying him with sticky labels which were to be affixed
to the items and had the copyright symbol, my name and date, that was sufficient
protection for me. I'm ready to go to court soon. Has anyone had any experience
in this kind of matter? Certainly would like to hear from you, if you do.
Ted