help! Copyright laws or legal advice Please

Wed, 16 Aug 2006, 04:08 pm

neliosam13 posts in thread

hi everyone, My Name is Nelio and I need some advice or tips in website designing on copyright laws. The thing is someone from across the world has offered to design and run a website for me. And they say they can help me with promoting my CV and Profiles. Does anyone know how to go about this safely?He has agreed on volunteering to design and run the website for free but be reg. on .com what should i do? it sounds great but im not too sure. help please. Nelio Henriques Sam. Actor/Singer

Thread (13 posts)

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neliosamWed, 16 Aug 2006, 04:08 pm

LabrugWed, 16 Aug 2006, 04:22 pm

Odd Request

Personally, sounds very sus to me. Mind you you have only provided the basic details (which is smart BTW). All the same, do you know the person well? or have they sort of contacted you 'out-of-the-blue' so to speak? If the latter, then my money's on scam (or spam, take your pick).

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

Neville TalbotWed, 16 Aug 2006, 05:32 pm

Don't touch it

With a ten foot barge pole. Who is this? As Jeff says- do you know this person? If it was one of the many random emails that I have received over the years asking you if you'd like a webpage- it is spam... It is always best in my opinion to use someone you know well for anything like this, or at least someone you can do face to face with. They may say "no money", but wait a while and I'm sure the catch will emerge. that said, if you know the person and trust them then go for it. the fact you posted this msg implies that you don't. Nev It's the simple things stupid...

NaWed, 16 Aug 2006, 07:53 pm

Will the site be registered

Will the site be registered with their info? If you decide that the site isn't what you want, or want to change it later, will it cost you more? Will you have the ability to change it? My suggestion is - forgo the offer. I did a similar thing over a year ago. I proofread someone's book (usually costing about $2k) in exchange for that person to host a website for free. After some time, I wanted to change the site, but found that the person was difficult to work with on those changes. My suggestion is to find a free website (www.freewebs.com is what I've used for over a year, and is wonderful for the non-web design person) and use that. No payments, you can update whenever you want. If you want your own domain name, then just buy one and redirect it to your free site. Ten times better than letting someone else design it, and you have the freedom and ability to update it to your own needs and ideas. Not to mention, you're not reliant on someone you've never met. Check out my site at www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne. I created that with no knowledge of website design and most people who use Freewebs are non- web design people. Also, do you want a pretty looking site, do you want a blog (just something for daily entries); what do you want to do with it? If you're a member of Arts Hub, you can have a blog for free (see mine at http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com). You would be surprised at how easy it is to use blogs, and in fact, www.modblogs.com (if that's correct, if not just Google) has the best free blogs on offer I've ever seen. Lastly, website design actually would probably cost you around $100 per hour spent on creating the site (sites can take a long time to build, even for experienced people), and someone doing this voluntarily will not do as good a job or be as interested in updating it as someone who is paid would. If you do decide to go ahead, draw up a contract between the two of you and make sure everything (DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL) is agreed upon, and keep ALL YOUR CORRESPONDENCE with this person. That way, if anything does go wrong, you will have materials to back you up. But since this person is not in the same country, you would also have to consider dispute resolution in international laws. Not an easy task. If you do need some help, let me know. I've designed my three sites myself with very little design knowledge, and there's plenty of websites on offer for those of us who know nothing about it. Better to do it yourself than have to deal with someone you don't know. The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com

neliosamThu, 17 Aug 2006, 01:04 am

thanks Guys!

Lots of advice Sticky Apple Legs thanks heaps. ok here is the low down I have written up a contract and told him not to design anything until he has signed the letter of agreement and post it back to me. He has hosted and designed other websites for us before, my friend and I know him but haven’t personally met him. He sounds very honest and kind and generous. I have also told him to be safe on copyright laws too when designing the website. It’s all written down on the Contract letter I've written out. The website will be used professionally for casting agents and for me to promote myself as an actor. And with the examples that his come up with is exerllent and very creative, every edgy and professional. It is not spam. It didn’t come up on my emails…I’m not that naïve or stupid!!! It was through a relationship of chatting through msn and emails. There was friendship…I wouldn’t trust anyone down the street or someone that was random out of no where. He wants the website to be registered with .com and its not much to have a domain and host (its like $18 for registration and Hosting is $35) (Total $53 a year) The website is going to feature my Bio and Resume, Photos and media resources and Videos of my Showreels and TV commercials (where I will be getting permission from all companies) But yeah I am agreeing on your thought about letting someone from another country run my website unpaid. My concern is will he want to continue to run the website for me for many years to come?....therefore with this question, I have made sure in the contract letter to state that I will have all access to the website, (all passwords and login identifications be given to me, so I can run it and take care of it) I also included that constant contact with him through email and conversations on MSN and know the whereabouts of his business. All this is in the contract. I trying to cover as much as possible. I’ve researched copyright laws but need to look into international copyright laws. Man this is HARD! Would it be easier to do the website myself? I’m getting a professional to look at the contract and see what they say. Still not 100% sure yet guys What do you think? Should I host and do everything myself and depend on myself or let someone who is passionate to help me, and help them promote there talents in website designing? Worried and unsure...it hasn’t been finalised yet. So.... Nelio Henriques Sam Actor

LabrugThu, 17 Aug 2006, 08:20 am

Different Spin

OK, with that extra dialogue, it is now sounding more legit. There are quite a few complications with Web Site Design which is why the simple phrase - 'Keep It Simple' is absolutely ideal. Even if you get this 'friend' to design it, keeping it down to the bare basics - it's about you and nothing else - should keep you clear of any copywright issues, after all, you are completely entitled to talk about yourself in any way you choose.

The other issues are cost and access. If you are prepared to pay the cost and ensure you have full access (which I see you are doing) then great. That would in my opinion cover most of the bases.

However, I would do some research into other websites this guy has done and get a feel for his general style. Is this the guy you want to design your personal web site? I maintain my own through Yahoo Geocities and have had the same site for about 6 or 7 years now, apart from a few technical hiccups with Yahoo itself. It is not a flash/bang site but I have full responsability for it. No-one touches it but me. I also have some experience in designing websites (no expert mind you).

I suggest making a list of all your concerns an then proceed to tick them off. If you can tick of most or all of the concerns, then you only have to ask if anything is holding you back, and if you want to go ahead with it.

From what you have posted, I assume that you alread have at least a rough idea as to the content of the site so, you sound like you are about ready to go as it is. It's your call.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

neliosamThu, 17 Aug 2006, 12:18 pm

thanks Jeff Watkins

Great advice Jeff, thank you. I will check out other websites of his and I’ll ask him about the legal laws in his country and if I try and get in contact with other people that he has done websites for and get all the info from them (find out if he is reliable and trusting) it would be good, extra info. I think I’m going to go forth with it, especially once I make that list and check all the questions I have for him, get all the information from him and try and have it all written down, it should be ok. My agent says its cool and as long as he understands and signs that agreement letter stating that he is working under volunteer and you cover copyright laws then it should be fine. I guess I need to make the guy aware that I want to be involved in this project as much as he is. That I want to be able to login into the website and make changes of my own; I guess I need to make him understand that once his bored with running the website I can be equipped to take over full-time. True, there is as much as one can take when under volunteer work. Out of all people I can understand. Volunteering in community youth theatres for about 6years now, I remember after the 4th year of volunteering I wanted paid work...lol

NaThu, 17 Aug 2006, 12:27 pm

IMPORTANT!

Most people don't realise this, but when you register a domain name, your details (home address, phone number, everything!) are posted to the net. This is part of the registration process all over the world, and you will have to pay the web host company another fee to 'secure' your details. This means that they remove your details and give their own. Please make sure that you get this security feature, otherwise your info will be all over the net. And yes, I do think it's easier to make your own site. Ok, you're going to have passwords, etc. to the site. But that won't help you in the event that you need to update the site yourself. If you do go ahead either way, try to learn how to design sites yourself. There's plenty of online tutorials for dummies (I can suggest a few places that are great), and getting a copy of Dreamweaver, a website design program, might not be a bad idea to start. Consider - do you want 'flash' (moving images, video, etc), sound, or do you just want static info and pictures? How fancy do you need/want the site to be? Also, there are heaps of young web designers out there who would be keen to work on a site for free. Check out www.artsconnect.com.au - they provide sites for artists for a fee, but there are plenty of links to other designers too. The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com

Grant MalcolmThu, 17 Aug 2006, 04:00 pm

Na wrote:> when you

Na wrote:
> when you register a domain name, your details (home address, phone number,
> everything!) are posted to the net.

Certainly the registrant's details are available - unless you opt for an anonymisation service. However, depending on the registrar and the type of domain you're registering, some details may or may not be required or could be business rather than personal details. It's not a case of "everything!" being published. Only the information you provide.

Personally, I don't get hung up over details about me being on the 'net and most other people really needn't fuss either.

I remember a ridiculous situation in the early days of this website when someone wrote to complain that their name and phone number appeared on the website - as bookings details for a show. The same name and number was splashed across hundreds of posters and flyers and in newspapers and newsletters advertising the show, but they didn't want the phone number on the web. Oh, and you could look up their phone number AND street address in the white pages online with just a surname and initial.

:-)

I agree that, unless you're prepared to invest money in maintaining the website on an ongoing basis or want something particularly flash or unique, it's probably worth looking at acquiring the skills and undertaking the job yourself.

Seriously though, you really want to to undertake some cost/benefit analysis. For the work/cost involved, what exposure/value are you getting in return? Or this another vanity domain?

I heard from a member of one theatre company the other day frustrated at trying to convince their publicist that they needed to publish on Theatre Australia as well as on their own website.

When we looked at the web traffic to their website versus traffic to their company page here, there was three times as much traffic to their company page here as to their entire website elsewhere. Once you took into account traffic to individual pages on this site advertising their productions it blew out to 8 times as much traffic coming here as visiting the site they're paying to maintain.

I think you'll find that ArtsConnect is not free.

Cheers
Grant

--
Director, actor and administrator of this website

NaThu, 17 Aug 2006, 04:18 pm

Hey, Grant - you misquote

Hey, Grant - you misquote me! I say: There are plenty of other people who offer web design for free. Then I said that Arts Connect does it FOR FEE. But Arts Connect also hosts pages advertising the services of web designers, who may do it for free. As for the personal details thing, I wasn't aware that not all hosting services use all your details. From my limited research it certainly seemed that way. And you are right about traffic - one posting here gets me anywhere between 50 and 100 more unique visitors to my site every day than any other media release/online postings/etc. would ever get me. And my traffic from Google and other referrals isn't that great. The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com

Grant MalcolmThu, 17 Aug 2006, 07:36 pm

Argle!

Na wrote:
> Hey, Grant - you misquote me!

Argle again! Not only that I misread you too!

Very sorry, Na.

Cheers
Grant

--
Director, actor and administrator of this website

NaFri, 18 Aug 2006, 04:27 pm

That's ok! I forgive

That's ok! ;) I forgive you! The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com

Walter PlingeWed, 23 Aug 2006, 11:48 pm

reply to neliosam re:website offer

Is the company called explore talent, in the us, as they do exactly what your mentioning. If it is, its not a scam they work like an agent and get work for you, they take a commission on any work they get you. There are a quite a few in the states that do this, they have tens of thousands of actors on their site and directors or advertising company's can join up for a fee and they then have access to heaps of different looks and talent. The adds they put on the sites also earn money for them as they affiliate with various companies and get a commission if anyone buys their goods or service that has come via your site. Or it could be a company that get paid to sign people up to have a site and they earn their money from the adds they post on your site. They are legal but for a small fee you can do it your self and the web design tools are really easy to use. My site costs me $12 per month and it was really easy to use their site building tools. I use yahoo which is via yahoo small business. That price included my private domaine name which is important to have a private domaine otherwise you get too much spam as an email address is linked to it, Actually I get up to 1oo pages of site, 200 email addresses help with optimization. If your not optimized you may as well not have a site. If you want any help with this email me and I am happy to assist. You can view my site to see what can be done with their tools. keep in mind I have never build a site before, my site is at www.dare2audition.com but its still under construction email me at actingup@dare2audition.com I know other companies that host for as little as $4.99 a month that do all the above as well or one that has fantastic templates to use thats free to trial for 1 month. So feel free to email me if you want further assistance. Regards Helen

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