Gabriel Abed’s Blog

Today I took a hard blow, not physically, but mentally. Approximately 3 months ago, I designed a website from the ground up for a client. It was probably my best and most comprehensive work. I took my time, added new features and did a lot of research and programming to make it completely user friendly. The website had a backend only available to administrators and website editors. This back-end was developed to allow non-knowledgable coders to update the website. This is known as a content management system and was the first one I ever built.

I put easily over 3 weeks straight of work into this system. Needless to say, the client was extremely pleased. Weeks passed by and the gentleman who I was dealing with at the company, quit. This was not my problem and it didn’t matter to me, my job was complete and the website was signed off to them; so I thought. I was then contacted by staff members of the company requesting additional changes and upgrades outside of the scope. I explained I was extremely busy with university and other prior commitments and they would have to wait. I guess waiting was not in their agenda. I was given a deadline which I could not keep and I tried my best to complete the requested changes. Being the nice guy that I am, I did the additional changes for free, although I could have easily charged a few hundred dollars. After a few days of working on the project, I delivered the changes exactly eight days after the deadline.

Instead of getting a thank you from the company, I got a request to deliver all source files and passwords to them as they had hired a new developer. Sure, I was a little upset, but I figured it was for the best. After all, I had school and other more important clients to tend to. The most upsetting aspect was after I completed the changes, they still got another programmer, and the crush factor was that this was the first time I ever lost a client. EVER. Not wanting to give myself a bad reputation, I cooperated and relinquished all files and passwords.

Three weeks passed and the new developer completed his work on the company site. I visited the site and was personally not impressed as I had done better work, but because I could not meet the deadline and I was cut. Here is the part where I get really upset. I browse to the CMS that I had built. Guess what? Its no longer titled “Websites.bb CMS”. It is now titled “Vision Nova CMS”. The unethical bastards changed my copyright signatures on ALL MY WORK. Yes, every bit of copyright data I had was either deleted or changed! How low can you get to steal someone else’s work and put YOUR NAME ON IT. I contacted the new developer and requested my copyright be restored and the response I got was a negative one refusing to comply! Perfect! Not only is he unethical, but he is also (for use of better words) a jackass.

I was tempted to contact my lawyer and file legal action against them, but I figured it is too much hassle to pursue something so petty. Although, I believe I have concurred damages in the form of lack of credit and therefore exposure, and a judge would certainly see their omission right through and rule in my favor, I decided to let it go. Lucky for them, I am not going to stress myself with that. I do thank them for teaching me a couple of lessons.

1. From now on, my contracts are going to state that my copyright notifications and comments are not to be removed or edited once source files are handed over.

2. My source files will be provided, however, my back-end and complex coded files will be encrypted so that NO ONE can edit them.

3. Not everyone is ethical in this world, some people will do anything to get themselves ahead of the game, even if it means stealing.

Thank you Vision Nova, you have taught me something valuable and that is the ethics and morals of one man is different to that of another man. Always prepare yourself for the worst scenario and pick up from your mistakes. At the end of the day, what goes around comes around and I am sure karma will pick up where you left off.