Hey everybody, I need some advice. So about 6 months ago i designed a website for a friend and was paid although we had no contract. The website is the best i've done and i would like to keep it in my online portfolio for years to come. Problem is, he just got out of the business he was in, thus no longer needing the website, and took it down. I still have the website saved on my computer. We are no longer friends. If i were to buy his old domain name and put the website back up could he sue me? What if i were to just change the name on the actual website and change the web address and change the content, but leave the same layout could i get in trouble for that. My other option is to just host the site localy on my design site and put it as a "site i designed in the past". This would probley be the best option, but i don't think it looks as good to potential clients if the site is hosted on my design site. I value your opnions on this matter and i look foward to hearing from you all. Thanks- Josh
I do not know your friend or ex-friend so I cannot determine what he would do but I would think the best option would be to talk to him about your plans and get everything determined in black and white. However if I am not wrong if the other party pays you for your design then they own the website and design, not you. So they have every right to take down the site or do whatever they want to do with it. You have no rights to the site at all since it is no longer yours.