Breach of contract: client used my designs without paying after I withdrew them

Question

I sent watermarked branding designs as part of a pitch. Client said 'thanks, will revert' then went silent. Two months later their new website is launched using my designs exactly, watermarks removed. How do I act?

Reema Khoury · Accepted Answer

Two parallel actions: (1) IP infringement at the Ministry of Economy for unauthorised reproduction of copyrighted works (your designs are protected from the moment of creation, no registration required for copyright); (2) civil damages claim at Dubai Courts for unjust enrichment + actual licence-equivalent fee. Step 1: send a takedown demand to the client and a DMCA notice to their hosting provider. Step 2: preserve evidence — Wayback Machine snapshots of the live site, original .ai/.psd files with creation timestamps, email chain showing pitch. Step 3: file civil suit; statutory damages can be 2-3x the licence fee plus legal costs.

Breach of contract: client used my designs without paying after I withdrew them

1 answers

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