Design Theft by a Former Client
<p>I had a client that I worked for a number of years. During that time one of mock-up ads I presented was rejected, and therefore the design was not purchased/paid for. Today, three years after my presentation, I found the ad I designed for this former client printed in an international publication. What is my recourse?</p>

<p>My business is in the US and the publication is printed in the US and distributed in the US and Europe.</p>

<p>You need a lawyer, as phoog says, and evidence that you created that mock-up and showed it to the client, better yet that the client had an opportunity to copy it (which would be quite common if that mockup was in electronic form), and the lawyer will advise you how to proceed best. </p>

<p>There is the possibility that your mock-up was stashed away somewhere, someone found it and assumed it was paid for, and used it assuming everything was fine, and now you are in an excellent negotiation position. </p>

<p>A good lawyer will try to get the maximum settlement possible before taking anyone to court. </p>

intellectual-property theft