website attacked

loopydonna

My nephew set up a small business and wanted a website to show off his work to customers, but he isn't very good with computers.

A friend of his helped him buy the domain name, and said he would design the website for him. My nephew did a rough plan on paper of the layout and wording he wanted on the website, and supplied the friend with photographs of his work.

He's now had a bust up with the friend, who has taken it out on the website. All the content has been removed, and when you type the domain name in, it takes you to another website.

The friend said he is entitled to remove everything as he has copyright over it. He has also disabled my nephews log in, so he can't log in and get someone else to redo the site for him.

Is there anything my nephew can do. He is most upset about the photographs as he took them himself and was proud of them.

JonnyThunder

Any work that he has original designs or copies of, he is entitled to. As far as the webspace goes, if your nephew was the person who registered the website himself (and the hosting package) then it is his. He can contact the provider and explain the situation.

If however, this other guy was the person who registered the domain and webspace - then there is little you can do.

You need to find out who did what and let us know.

EDIT: In some cases, it has been possible to contest the use of a business named domain. For instance, if I owned "Joe Bloggs" company and someone registered the domain name under my nose, there have been instances where it has gone to court and the company owner has won the case.

Browntoa

I'd just buy another domain if he will not release it

if www.yourwebsite.co.uk is owned by the other person, nothing to stop you buying the .com or .biz varaint

loopydonna

My nephew registered the webspace in his name and has paid the hosting bills for it. At the moment, the friend is the only person who is able to log into it as he has deleted my nephews log in details.

The friend did the programming work, but my nephew drew the rough design on paper. All the photographs were taken by my nephew and he wrote all the wording, such as an "about me" page telling people about his qualifications and past work experience.

Browntoa

if the other person has changed the hosting password I would just use the "forgot my password" option and get it emailed back , if the so and so has changed the email address as well I would contact the host direct and say someones hacked the acccount (he can prove the card/bank that makes the payments is his) as all the details have been changed

JonnyThunder

If your nephew registered the domain himself then he should also have a copy of the welcome note in his email. He should contact the host and tell them what has happened. If he's the person paying for it, then he's entitled to have them reset the login details.

As for the website itself, I wouldn't chase for it too much as there isn't much you can really do without proof that you owned the design. And thats difficult to prove.

loopydonna

Thanks very much all. I'll get him to talk to the hosting company and see if they can sort out the log ins.

Moneymaker

Presumably your nephew has original copies of the photos? If the "friend" has kept them, with the intention of not returning them, that's straightforward theft. Also, the authorities would take a dim view of web site hacking, regardless of the excuse. You could, if necessary, involve the police.

Anyway, if you need a "quick and dirty" web site knocking together, either I or my son could do it for you as a gesture of goodwill.

I'm sure that others here will willingly fight us for the pleasure, too!