This section of the forum is for discussing the business and finance issues of the t-shirt industry. Which business structure to use (sole proprietor, LLC, S Corp, etc), how to handle billing, where to register your business and get the proper licensing, etc.
How many others has he taken advantage of over the years?
Contact your adviser at the college and let it play out. If you don't get satisfaction there, push further or contact the school or local newspaper, or the "on your side" TV guides who are always looking for scandal.
The guy is a worm, grind him under your heel. If you don't get paid when it all washes out, let us know, we'll take up a donation.
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How many others has he taken advantage of over the years?
Contact your adviser at the college and let it play out. If you don't get satisfaction there, push further or contact the school or local newspaper, or the "on your side" TV guides who are always looking for scandal.
The guy is a worm, grind him under your heel. If you don't get paid when it all washes out, let us know, we'll take up a donation.
.
After I told him that I wanted to be paid for my services, he sent me a long email (maybe I should post it!) telling me that now for some reason, he can't justify paying me. So, I'm pretty screwed now. Lots of hard work gone to waste I suppose, but a necessary lesson in business.
After I told him that I wanted to be paid for my services, he sent me a long email (maybe I should post it!) telling me that now for some reason, he can't justify paying me. So, I'm pretty screwed now. Lots of hard work gone to waste I suppose, but a necessary lesson in business.
Forward it to the school.
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drew,
reread your second to last paragraph where it says it 'feels' like manipulation, that it's unfair and unethical. sounds like those are NOT qualities that you adhere too, i think that's your answer.
good luck
m
I totally agree Robert, forward the email to the school and explain what he did to you. If anything he will at least be put on notice so it doesnt happen to others.
I feel your pain. Unfortunately over the years I have had to deal with several of these types of clients that feel that their time, company, profit margins somehow take precedence over ours. It has been my experience that standing firm for what is right has always paid off in the end... Demanding fair compensation for services rendered is your right and often will result in the client not only paying you but results in additional business as well. It's as if now all of a sudden you are seen as an equal instead of a "mark" to be preyed upon...
Good Luck with this, you have gotten a lot of great advise and support here in the forums.
Best Regards,
Lee Shatto
Last edited by Solmu; November 20th, 2007 at 10:19 PM.
Reason: removed url as per forum guidelines, feel free to add it to your signature
PS: I agree with forwarding all relevant information to the school, or initially divulging your intent to do so which may persuade him to reconsider compensating you for the work.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the issue of copyright ownership here. If he never paid you, you still own the copyrights and designs. Even if you've never filed.
If he had paid you, he would then own the designs.
I would submit a copyright form for the designs in the file you gave him. Then I would inform him that he is not permitted to use the designs because you own them, and request that he return the file.
Otherwise, if he intends on using the designs, he may file for copyright first, and then your options are deminished if not eliminated.
__________________ "It's not the shirt on your back, but what's on the back of your shirt!"
There are actually two different threads going on here.
One has to do with the money.
The other has to do with the fact that he feels like he can manipulate you. And probably others, either in the past or in the future.
If you handle the advisor / student relationship with the school I'll bet the money will come.
Should you press for just the money with ot without using your copyrights, you may get your money, but he will still be in a position to prey on future students.
If you concentrate fully on the money you may get paid, but you will allow him to go unpunished for his treatment of you (and possibly others).
If you bring his taking advantage of a student while in an advisory position, you will probably get your money and also knok him down a few pegs.
You can always get money, but retribution could be fleeting. Get it while you can.
The other has to do with the fact that he feels like he can manipulate you. And probably others, either in the past or in the future.
If you handle the advisor / student relationship with the school I'll bet the money will come.
Should you press for just the money with ot without using your copyrights, you may get your money, but he will still be in a position to prey on future students.
If you concentrate fully on the money you may get paid, but you will allow him to go unpunished for his treatment of you (and possibly others).
If you bring his taking advantage of a student while in an advisory position, you will probably get your money and also knok him down a few pegs
If you want to fight with a snake, you have to get down in the dirt and fight it out on their level. The 4 or 5 wasted hours will turn into 40 or 50 wasted hours, and in the end, this guy will not pay anyway, period!
You can not grind these kind of people under your heel - they love this stuff! (That's what the long email is all about.) It's now a "He said, He said" issue.
Drew, if you post his email, he will turn this whole thing around and come after you. ("Oh poor, me - Look at what has happened - I tried to help this student and look at how he treated me - This is the thanks I get for trying to help...")
Send the email to your instructor and to the administration at the school if you want - it is now part of your academic record. If they want to take action against him, they will. If they don't, then you know you would have lost anyway.
Sometimes, "you gotta know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em." Everyone gets burned in business at one time or another. Good Luck!
Re: Business Ethics Issues :( 
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