Portfolio Marred By Client Tweaks Options

[Orpheus Descendi...]

Both of my questions are probably off topic, but I rarely catch a good copywriting thread.

My first question is very selfish, but I am curious. I have started working with a company that does digital copyright (yes, I mean that in terms of the rights and not the writes). They have been copyrighting web design and photo images mostly, but I'm encouraging them to get into the copywriting side of things. Would any of the copywriters here use something like that? In terms of copyrighted images, this service has been tested in EU courts and has been successful.

Second question sort of turns this scenario on it's side. I'm getting ready to speak at a conference here in Ireland, and I went back to look at many of the websites I've written over the years. What I've found is that many of the sites have been 'edited' and updated. Lots of my original writing remains, but it's kind of like taking a Degas and turning it into a Picasso or Kandinsky. Some of these edits have been done by writers, who I wouldn't let re-write a birthday card from the looks of what I'm seeing. Now, when I wrote those sites, the work I did was owned by the publisher to do with as they choose, and since there isn't any writer's credit on the sites, it's no real skin off my nose - except that my portfolio is marred. How do I sample my work to prospective clients when the work is marred? What do other writer's do in this situation?

[copywriter]

Yes, since these are off-topic, I've started a new thread.

1. Copyrighting service - I would not use such a thing because it's so simple to do this yourself. At least in the US it is. For me personally, it wouldn't be worth my while.

2. What I've always done is do screen shots of my client's web pages right after they upload the new copy. That way, I have something for my portfolio. If - for whatever reason - they choose to screw it up later (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) then I still have something showing the work I did.

[Orpheus Descendi...]

2. What I've always done is do screen shots of my client's web pages right after they upload the new copy. That way, I have something for my portfolio. If - for whatever reason - they choose to screw it up later then I still have something showing the work I did.

Brilliant. And 'Doh' on my part - Now you know how I will be spending next weekend. I hope it rains. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[bwelford]

If you have more than a screenful to copy, you may find ScreenGrab, which is a Firefox plug-in, is useful