Who owns the rights?

[Ftalgen]

Hey guys.

I was wondering when you get your website desgined/created by either an indivdual or company, who owns the rights to the design? As long as you compensate the desginers/creators they have to sign over all rights to you, right?

[Encrypted]

Depends on the initial agreement with the designer. In most cases, yes.

[MissBossLJ]

in almost all circumstances indeed!

[peteVA]

That truly depends. There are many sites which are using copyrighted templates or variations of templates. Not Home Depot or Macy's, etc., but many small and mid-sized sites are template based, in many cases the "designer" simply steals a template and removes the copyright, or replaces it with his own.

I am sure there will be some purists who disagree with me, but there are very few small business sites "built from scratch". Many are templates, with many getting the credit they deserve, but also a whole lot sort of ripped off, if not for money, but by removing links and claiming copyrighted stuff as their own.

[Ftalgen]

Thanks for the info so far guys.

Another question popped into my head after I read the response above. How much would price vary when asking a desginer to make a site from scratch vs having them modifying a template? I assume the price would be greatly different but just wondering if anyone had some figures they could toss around.

[peteVA]

There are kids who will do it for pocket change and firms that will do it for $$$$.

Much of "web design" is smoke and mirrors. There is only so many ways you can do the same thing. And some does depend on the type of site - shopping cart, blog, forum, single product, affiliate sales, corporate brochure, etc.

And, sadly, the fact is that you, as the buyer of the finished product will never know how much was actually from scratch. There are hundreds of "developers packages" that are what they call "white box", or no name, that can be bought, a template added, a tweak here and there and Presto! a made from scratch (you are told) website.

All you, as a consumer of websites, can do is decide if the price you are quoted is worth the result, that is what you ultimately are paying for. If the seller can whip it up in 10 minutes, but you think it's worth the $900 being asked, then you are both happy.

[Ftalgen]

Pete thanks for all the info thus far. If I were looking to get a fully funtional ecommerce website made, would you suggest seeking indepedent indivduals or going through a firm?

[rpermana]

first, you should try out OSCommerce by yourself. It is very easy to setup without much programming. If you don't like it, then you consider getting someone to do it.

You can get a cheap programmer online via Freelancer.com | Online Freelance Jobs | Employment | Design | Outsourcing | Programmers | Web Design | Freelancers

[Encrypted]

first, you should try out OSCommerce by yourself. It is very easy to setup without much programming. If you don't like it, then you consider getting someone to do it.

You can get a cheap programmer online via Freelancer.com

They're cheap for a reason. They stink. Hire someone you know can get the job done properly.

[peteVA]

They're cheap for a reason. They stink. Hire someone you know can get the job done properly.

Yes, and then they will charge you $1000 or so to enclose OSC in a template and tell you what a great deal you are getting.

Frankly, to pay for a "from scratch" shopping cart is idiotic. You are then tied to that developer for life. What happens when he dies, or more likely realizes he cannot feed his family as a designer / developer and goes back to a real job?

Virtually all shopping carts are designed around white box scripts, not developed from scratch. There are hundreds of these scripts, from free to thousands.

Ftalgen, for the reason above I do not suggest an individual. Too many have great intentions and poor marketing skills and end up back punching a time clock. Seems they no longer have time to support their creation.

I say this with 8 years in the hosting business, seeing many come and go. I spend a lot of time on small business forums, and I see sob stories almost daily of people whose support guy is no longer supporting them.

My recommendation is me. (Note I have not suggested that until you asked, I post what I have learned, not trying to sell.)

I have over 100 shopping cart hosting clients from around the world. I do not force them to use a specific cart, but I do install the cart we decide they need at not charge. I offer "hold your hand" service, working with you during the startup phase, while gently urging you to do it on your own.

Cost? As low as $4.49 per month, paid annually, $5.99 paid monthly. (12 PayPal fees vs. 1)

The cart I often suggest is the free version of CubeCart, but I do feel we should discuss your needs first. There are a number of free and low cost carts that work well, but each does have some good and bad features. The variety of payment processors, shipping methods, how they handle options and other things vary greatly and finding one that suits your needs not just now,but several years from now is the key.

The looks, or design, are truly skin deep. CubeCart even calls the templates "skins", for that is all they are. Designers can make any cart look however you want it to look.

There are a number of "cart builder" sites that let you build your cart online for a monthly fee. Some make some good looking sites, but should you want to leave for any reason you lose all the work that you have done, since it is all through their system. With someone like me, you can leave at any time and take your cart with you. All the hours loading inventory can be saved and you don't have to start from scratch. Not that I want you to leave, but you know you can, and take your cart with you.

Here's a link you can read a bit more and use the contact link there if you want to ask questions. I deal with folks like you on a daily basis and will answer any questions you many have - Affordable Hoster