I've been trying to resolve this on my own but I'm stuck.
someone copied my website design. I've been dealing with this for about 9 months now and the situation isn't improving ngl.
Do I have a strong case? What should my next steps be?
I practice in this area. Here's my take on the legal issues.
This is a common situation and the law is fairly clear. Under 17 U.S.C. § 106, substantially similar.
One important thing — there are strict deadlines for filing these claims. Don't wait too long.
Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.
Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.
The #1 mistake I see here is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.
Have you tried reaching out to your state's legal aid society? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.
NAL, but from what I've read, you should check your state's specific laws. Standard disclaimer: talk to an actual attorney for your case.
Dealt with this exact thing last year.
I ended up filing with the appropriate government agency, which cost about $4-8 but saved me a lot more in the long run.