Extension drawings

Innys

Hi guys

I dunno if this is the best sub board to post this but I'm sure someone will tell me.

I have started the process of adding an extension to my house and drawings were prepared by an architect for me. They were submitted to the Council and, fortunately, approved.

I've not been very pleased with the architect's work and decided not to commission him to do the structural drawings and liaison with building control.

So I have spoken to another structural engineer who will do this second phase for me. I have managed to get an electronic copy of the drawings from the architect but he has refused to rescind his copyright on the drawings.

Doeas anyone know where this leaves me? Is the architect blackmailing me into using him for the structural drawings/buuilding control as well? Or does he expect me to pay him off to rescind his copyright?

Thanks a lot.

Debt_Free_Chick

Innys wrote:

So I have spoken to another structural engineer who will do this second phase for me. I have managed to get an electronic copy of the drawings from the architect but he has refused to rescind his copyright on the drawings.

Doeas anyone know where this leaves me? Is the architect blackmailing me into using him for the structural drawings/buuilding control as well? Or does he expect me to pay him off to rescind his copyright?

Thanks a lot.

Strictly speaking, it is his copyright as it's his work.

Why is the electronic copy not sufficient? Couldn't the structural engineer work from that or simply a photocopy of what was submitted to the planners?

rob.jarvis

Is there a breach of copyright if the new structural engineer bases his/her drawings on the previous ones?

Could you change the original drawings slightly and call them your own. It seems to work in the publshing industry.

Innys

As I paid for the drawings, even though he did the work, do I own them?

I have left a message with the Structural Engineer to ring me to discuss it but am awaiting a reply. He can't work from the submissions to the council as he would need to input the details to his computer mapping program.

Anyway, I have contacted his regulatory body to find out the implications of his decision on me. I am waiting for them to call me back. I haven't told them his name but I may grass on him to them as well if they suggest what he has done is contrary to their guidelines...

vsumouse

if the architect used auto cad for his drawings there should be no problem,

if you are unhappy with the drawings from him, you must want to change a few things, therefore give the engineer the cad file and tell him of any changes you require, also tell him to put the new drawing on a new drawing sheet, with his title block on the page and maybe he could shuffle a few dimensions around in the existing plan as these are not that important (ie, internal walls) then if anything come back you could say that there was another survey by the engineer,
i dont think it would come to that if its on his own drawing sheet and has his company title blocks on pages, as there would be no proof:rolleyes:
hope this helps !!!!

vsumouse

also if you still want to use the original drawings that are paper copys there is a program that scans the paper and converts it into a line drawing, most good printing/graphic shops will have this the term is called vectorising.

Bad-Boy-Button

You say the architect would not rescind his copyright over the drawings, this does not mean he has not given permission for the structural engineer (or you) to use them. The design process has many stages and involves different disciplines at the various stages. The drawings have been submitted to the planning dept and you in electronic format so the architect, in my opinion, is allowing you to use them, even though he owns them intellectually. The structural engineer can base his drawing from the dimensions and design, but will have to design his own details such as foundation, eaves, window, floor slab etc (depending on how much the architect has done), These details do not necessary need the original drawing in to be present, only to scale from and apply the correct design principles to make the architects extension work within the building regulations.