Can I get in trouble?

On my Myspace Layouts site, this guy had been making layouts for a wrestling promotion. He had a group with all the layouts. I took them, hosted them on my site, and gave them to the public. I never read a trademark, copyright, disclaimer, etc.

He wants me to take the layouts off now, because I didn't credit him. Will I get in legal trouble if I leave them on?

 

You don't need copyright notice to claim copyright. Take them down.

 

Why not just give him the credit? Would you want someone stealing your work and calling it their own?

 

give them back or give the credit

 

Er, yes you're stealing

 

So if I posted on the site, Layouts made and all credit goes to so and so, it'd be perfectly legal? Even if he still wasn't happy?

 

No, he gets to decide under what terms he will allow you use or give away his work. You can never use someone elses work without their permission. Not only could he sue you for damages, copyright infringement can actually be a criminal charge - and there are extreme cases of people going to prison for several years.

 

put the credits on. then see what happens

 

Have you contacted the guy and asked nicely? Maybe he'll let you use them.

 

No matter what it is if you want to put it on your website you need permission from the author/creator. If in doubt... just don't use it!

 

You might also want to read Ten Copyright Myths. That should clear a few things up.

 

It's his work so he gets to decide how it is being used by other people, unless you buy resell or distribution rights from him.

 

Do as he asks, you are in the wrong.

 

why risk getting caught, you know they are his - copyright is a matter of fact not a matter of process.