Please help me... Im very scared!

[Mridler]

Hi guys. I am not at all good with the law and need some serious help. I am being attacked by a very large company I was doing work for up until yesterday. I am a freelance graphic art designer, I am in my early 20's but have been doing work for a long time in this field.

The company I was working for came upon my website, saw that I was posting samples in my portfolio and immediately contacted me by phone to inform me.

- they had my website shut down
- that I was infringing on copyright.

The work on my website was for my portfolio, not for resale, and not to compete with the company. I have been doing freelance work for many companies, never before have I encountered this.

Now I am getting emails from the companys President telling me he is going to contact every site where my company is listed and use his power to have my company info removed.

I am very scared of what could happen to me. I never intended by doing graphic design work freelance for people to be put in the position of being attacked and possibly sued. Please if anybody can help me I am desperate and scared to death. cant eat, cant sleep. Any words of encouragement or advice are so GREATLY appreciated.

I dont have much money, I am still young but anyway that you can help me and I can repay you I will do. Please help me, email me or post a reply!

I feel like I am being seriously bullied by a large company attacking a young guy working out of his home trying to get by.

Thanks
Mike

 

[Jack Mevorach, Esq.]

Mike,

First - do not panic. There is no reason at all for that. The building is not on fire, no one is being executed and nuclear weapons have not been used. All kidding aside, relax yourself and keep it in perspective.

Next, more details needed. You can post further or call me.

 

[Mridler]

A big thank you goes out to Jack for taking the time to talk to me on the phone. I understand how my isp would remove my site rather then face a problem.

The brunt of this problem is the fact that I was young and foolish while doing these designs in that I did not get a written agreement stating that I would use the designs in my portfolio. Thanks to Jack who cleared this up for me.

I have tried contacting the company but they dont want to have anything to do with me. I have received over 5 emails from them telling me they will be suing me, as well they are contacting websites where my company is listed and trying to get my listings removed. The president of the company emailed me a letter stating exactly that.

They also owe me quite a bit of money for design work they never paid for. I am not interested in recovering my financial loses, I am more interested in putting an end to this as quickly as possible.

I hope some other people will post responses to my question and problem and be as helpfull as Jack was. He helped clear up alot of issues and at least gave me some knowledge on what the issues were.

Jack said it best when he said I needed to step up to the plate and deal with it. I just want to learn as much as possible as I can, since this is a VERY large company that is out to ruin me financially and emotionally through all means possible.

Thanks... look forward to more responses.
Mike

 

[Jack Mevorach, Esq.]

You're very welcome.