[Urgent] Being threatened to be taken to court...

Over a webdesign I did for a guy. The guy has a site that is trying to get some changes done at his college radio station. Whatever, I'm not a part of any of the content or anything. I just did his site and that's it. I'm not hosting it either.

So I get this letter:

I am sorry that your name is attached to the site. I am going to be forced to name you as a defendant, due to your being a party to these violations of copyright, privacy and harrassment. Please note this is a Federally licensed radio station, which makes any legal issues, automatically a Federal level case. In other words, you are violating FCC rules pertaining to privacy. William xxxxxx

Word on the street, according to the guy who bought the design is that this guy is kind of loopy and he isn't a paid employee at the station anymore. Semi-retired or something.

Legally, do I have anything to worry about here?

FYI -- Just remembered some of you are out of the country. You can share your opinion, but this is United States law in the end. Specifically he's in Kentucky, I'm in MD.

i doubt they could do anything to u as u only designed the website and didnt know what his purpose was, etc.

something similiar happened to me at school. i did a site for my cousin and on there he had a rap song which was a diss track towards a nearby school. the song then spread and the other school's principal complained. so my cousin got kicked out of the school and i was about to get kicked out as well but i had nothing to do with the content i just designed it for him so they let me stay.

I dont really have any advice for you except that you should always have the client sign and date a contract that protects you against these types of conflicts

Some of us are under 18 and we cant legally be bound to a contract.

Originally Posted by Tycho I dont really have any advice for you except that you should always have the client sign and date a contract that protects you against these types of conflicts

A contract stating what? That I have no control over the content on the site?

That pretty much goes without saying.

Legally, you have absolutely nothing to be worried about. You were contracted by William to create a website. You have no control over what he does with the website. The copyright is held by the OWNER which means once you hand off the design, you are no longer affiliated.

And as for violating the FCC rules to privacy... ever heard of the US concept of free speech. I doubt this court will get past the prelim hearings. The federal governement - or its public sector establishments (I assume it's public sector as it is a federally licensed station, all stations are federally licensed but are not involved with federal cases unless it is a public sector endeavor) must accept all criticism.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

As for harrassment, it is very hard to be prove. The creation of a website is a very little case to begin with.

I doubt William will ever stand in front of a judge for this...

Regards,
Patrick

Thanks for the insight.

Also-- William is NOT the guy who paid me to do the site. He is a retiree from the station, which is owned by a public college (Non-profit).

Little weird.

I wouldn't mess with him or anything though, because like you metioned, he is a employee of a College and obviously if the college wants to press charges, then it's going to be easy.

Contact a lawyer. We can give you advice here, based on life knowledge, but a lawyer can give you facts.

You don't want to get things like this wrong.