How would you feel if this was done to you?
@RawBill1 (8531)
Gold Coast, Australia
July 28, 2009 7:45pm CST
I am the secretery of a local sporting club and am also the person responsible for promoting the club. Two years ago we decided to have a website built and I was going to be the person who maintained it. One of the members had some experience at building websites so he built one for free with free software and taught me how to run it and keep it updated with content.
This person who built the site, paid for the hosting of the site and for the domain name for it. At the time I told him that the club would pay, but he insisted on paying as a donation to the club. He later went on to become Vice President of the club until last week when he had an argument with the club President and quit the club.
He took down the clubs website with out telling anyone or offering to sell the domain name to the club. I have put a lot of time over the last two years into building the website up as a history of the club, as it had loads of photos, scores and newsletters each from each month. He has added nothing at all to the site over the last two years after he initially set it up.
He and I get along OK and I appreciate him paying for the site for the last two years. I am trying not to take this personally, but I cannot help feeling hurt by his actions as I have to start all over again! It is going to take me a very long time to build another one!
Do you think he has the right to do this because he built it? Do you think I should feel angry? Please let me know your thoughts! Thank You :-)
2 people like this
8 responses
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
29 Jul 09
Yeah I'd be pissed, no question. I think you'll find that just because he may own the domain name, he doesn't legally have the right to the content within it, so absolute worst case, he MUST give the club back all the content.Ownership of a domain name that carries a commercial/company tag can be challenged as well (Assuming you are using a club name related url and not a generic domain name). I hope it doesn't come down to this, but if he continues to be difficult, sic a lawyer onto him and he'll back down I'm sure. He has no leg to stand on, of this I'm sure.
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
29 Jul 09
It doesn't even take legal proceedings mate. All you need is a smart letter from a solicitor and that'll be that. 
Given that the .com is in the name of the club, he's got no chance! It's always far better to have the .com if you can help it too. Anyways, I'm sure he'll calm down and end up being quite reasonable before it comes to any of that.
Given that the .com is in the name of the club, he's got no chance! It's always far better to have the .com if you can help it too. Anyways, I'm sure he'll calm down and end up being quite reasonable before it comes to any of that.1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
29 Jul 09
Hi James, thanks for your response. :-)
The majority of content on the site I still have on my computer as I was the one who put it all on there, so that is not a problem! Other than the hours required to upload it all again!
Interesting what you are saying about challenging the ownership of the domain name and it carrying a commercial tag! Yes, the domain name is the same as the clubs registered name. I have looked into it on Godaddy and I can get .org instead of .com for $14.99 per year if he gets difficult. I do not think it is worth legal proceedings! I could not be bothered!!!
1 person likes this
@calyxus (825)
• Philippines
29 Jul 09
I hate to say this but I think he offered to pay for the website so that you will accept him to your club, or if he is already a member when he offered that, then maybe it's because he wants to win your friendship, and make it to the top position on the club, which is not so far to reach since he is already the VP. Anyway, maybe he felt he could not get your loyalty and other members as well, so he decided to quit the club and took with him the website. I have a word for him: LOSER. 
@calyxus (825)
• Philippines
30 Jul 09
Your welcome! 
Aha! So I think that's it, the website, the raffles, it all adds up to popularity. LOL Anyway, his wife is a coach...uhm... Yeah better not lose her. I reckon she is very effective as a coach?
Just never mind the husband, though. Let him find another club.
Oh am I that rude? LOL
Aha! So I think that's it, the website, the raffles, it all adds up to popularity. LOL Anyway, his wife is a coach...uhm... Yeah better not lose her. I reckon she is very effective as a coach?
Just never mind the husband, though. Let him find another club.
Oh am I that rude? LOL1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Jul 09
No, you are not rude, but you have a good sense of humour! I am grateful for that! :-)
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Jul 09
Yes, it is possble that he could have been generous in the beginning to gain popularity! He had not been a member for very long when he offered to build the site. He and his wife also donated prizes for our raffles too.
One of the delicate things about the situation is that his wife is still at the club and is one of our coaches, so we do not want to lose her as well. Him we can afford to lose because he did not work hard at the club and was not a very active Vice President! Thanks for your response!
@icehut (508)
•
29 Jul 09
Well, that was just childish of him... If he paid for the domain name and hosting, then he can do whatever he wants... However, if he registered the domain name under your sporting club's name, it may be possible to get ownership transferred back to the club due to the departure of the employee responsible for registering the domain. Otherwise, if he's the only link, your club will need to negotiate a transfer with him... failing that, you'll need legal advice... Didn't you keep a local copy of the site or a backup? Anyway, hopefully your friendship means more to him... maybe you can strike a deal with him on behalf of the club to buy the domain name and site contents...
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
29 Jul 09
Thanks for commenting! :-)
The domain name is in his name! Last week, he said that he wouldnt sell it to us, but said he may if I contact him in a week when he was less angry! I am going to contact him today or tomorrow.
I have every photo, newsletter and the scores from the last two years on my computer so I can load them into a new site, but it will take up loads of my precious time!
He said that he would not let us have the template that he built for the site!
Hopefully he will be more respectful of the rest of the members and sell us the lot when I contact him this time!
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
29 Jul 09
I think the fair adult thing to do would have been for him to sell the domain name to the club or offer options to you and the club instead of leaving that way, and taking the whole site down, after all you helped with the site too, its understandable that your angry but its also very unfortunate that things turned out that way.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Jul 09
Thanks for your response!
Yes it is a very unfortunate thing to have happened. Once he has moved on and has nothing more to do with the club, I will still be rebuilding the site!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
29 Jul 09
I hope that given a little time he will realise how childish his actions are and that, by taking away the website he is hurting many other people who may not have had anything to do with his argument with the President.
The only thing I can suggest if he doesn’t change his mind is offer to buy it from him and then he will no longer have any rights to it which would probably be the best thing.
I would feel annoyed if I were you because it sounds as though you have put a lot of work into the site and it must be heart braking to have it disappear on you!
Hope it sorts itself out for the good of all.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
29 Jul 09
Thanks Paula, yes it was heart breaking to put so much effort into something only to have it taken away in an instant! I think he will realise that he was childish eventually, if he has not not already. A potential new member called me earlier today to tell me that the site was down, so I need to get it sorted in the next week so that people can find out more about our club! It will work out in the end! :-)
1 person likes this
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
29 Jul 09
If he was mature he wouldn't have taken it out on the whole club including you and the website. That is truly acting like a child and I would not be happy with him. I would be quite upset especially knowing you have to build a new website back up again from scratch. He knew doing this was going to screw the club and also you. So yes he would on my %$#$ list.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
29 Jul 09
Thanks for your comments. Yeah, myself and other club members felt it was a childish thing to do. He could have talked to someone first. I have lost all respect for him as others have also.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
29 Jul 09
Yes, you are right, it is worth trying again with him now he has had some time to think it over! Thanks for your comment! :-)
@raggedyrhondas (3)
• United States
29 Jul 09
I would have been upset. He could have left it all up and forwarded info on how to keep it up. What goes around comes around. So food for thought. Raggedyrhondas.com
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Jul 09
Thanks fr your response. I like what you say about what goes around comes around. His pest control business is quiet at the moment, so maybe that is because his people skills are not that great.
My wifes cousin has a pest control business and is really busy! He is fun and great with people!
