Intellectual Property

[PaiD]

on the 15th of Jan, I sold this one program to a client of mine (freelance) and he paid over pp with a cc. He later did a chargeback and I have now been tring to fight with PP over $147. I responded to the chargeback and claimed "Intellectual Property" as my work is copyrighted and it is now the 31st and still no response with PP. In the event that PP doesnt pay me. What would my opitions be?

[topaz]

Suck it up.

[Arta]

For $147, not a lot. You could get an IP attorney to write a letter to them and that might help, but it'd probably cost you more than you'd get back.

[quasi-modo]

if it's under 200 you can't even take the guy to small claims court in most states.

[DarkMinion]

I doubt you have a copyright.

[dxoigmn]

if it's under 200 you can't even take the guy to small claims court in most states.

Source? I've never heard of such a thing. However, there is a maximum amount you may sue for in small claims court.

I doubt you have a copyright.

Any reasoning behind that?

[DarkMinion]

Common sense...most people that program don't go out and seek patents/copyrights for the stuff they create, but still claim their creation is "copyrighted."

[Arta]

It is.

[jigsaw]

I'd kill a man for $147.00 - You got his name and address.  Go to publicrecords.com  find out where he lives and threaten his life.

[MyndFyre]

Common sense...most people that program don't go out and seek patents/copyrights for the stuff they create, but still claim their creation is "copyrighted."

That's incorrect.  By virtue of writing something you own a copyright to it under US law.  To get a court to enforce it, you have to register the copyright.  Copyright registration can come ex post facto (it can be don after the infringement was made) and still hold up in court, too, because you own the copyright as soon as you make whatever it is you made.

This is distinct from patents which are not in effect until a third party approves them (in the US, the US Patent Office).

[quasi-modo]

if it's under 200 you can't even take the guy to small claims court in most states.

Source? I've never heard of such a thing. However, there is a maximum amount you may sue for in small claims court.

No, I didn't look this up before I posted it, but I don't feel like looking this up when I've run into it before. Don't demand sources for things like this.

[Arta]

"Don't make me cite my sources when I can't be bothered!"

lol

[quasi-modo]

exactly, i have better things to do then site sources for trivial things. Now if this were one of our big political or religious debates that is another thing entirely.

[MyndFyre]

exactly, i have better things to do then site sources for trivial things. Now if this were one of our big political or religious debates that is another thing entirely.

God doesn't want you to own a copyright.

[quasi-modo]

exactly, i have better things to do then site sources for trivial things. Now if this were one of our big political or religious debates that is another thing entirely.

God doesn't want you to own a copyright.

Huh? I was talking about my small claim's statement :x


In other news: You guys all suck... currently in my county you can bring something for under 200 to court... but the filing fee is 80 bucks. So youd have to sue the guy for about 300 (assuming you pay the optional 20 dollar online filing conveiniance charge).

But I sware that was not the case when I was thinking of sueing someone for screwing for the cost to paint the top of the back bumper of my car!