IP rights and their importance

IP & Creative Industry 

Intellectual Property (IP) in Web Development is the ownership and subsequent protection of the design (look & feel, Logos, images, pictures, text/content, domain name, any data gathered by the website or application which is stored in the back end database and of course the underlying source code.  

So who owns the code?

Generally the law states that the owner of the copyright is the author of the underlying code. It is important to note that his will be the employer is the author was an employee. It should also be noted that the client is more than likely to own the copyright to the logos, imagery, pictures, content and so on. 

The client can be the owner of the underlying code but only if the rights have been transferred.

Why's it important?

In web development the website or application will inevitably need updating at some point in future it is therefore important for the developer (the owner of the code) has some protection in law. The client or new developer may 'rip off' the underlying code without the original developer's permission resulting in a subsequent financial loss for the original developer. Who owns what should be resolved and written into any contract before any work is undertaken as this is inevitably easier to resolve at this early stage. Some companies specialise in creating web site templates and in these instance the company will own the template, it is again therefore important to establish who the IP belongs to for each of website components. IP plays an important role in web development but it doesn't stifle creativity. Web sites and applications are continually evolving and in my opinion there's still a real hunger for bespoke custom built websites that meet the needs of the customer or organisation.

Freelance Web Developer

Starting out... & the benefits and drawbacks

Starting out own your own can be daunting... where do you start? After creating your own portfolio site the next step will be to setup your own business whilst trying to land your first job. Setting up your own business can be a challenge in its own right, luckily there are a number of organisations that can help get you up and running. Business Gateway is probably the best place to start, they will offer information and help to get your idea/business plan off the ground. Business gateway will take you through the first steps, help with finance, and give advice on how to manage and hopefully grow your business. 

Other organisations that can help....

• Creative Scotland
• Interactive Scotland
• Creative Clyde

Both Business Gateway & Creative Scotland can help with initial start up costs. 

Paying work

landing your first job... Freelancers spend around 40% of their time looking for work. Fortunately there are a number of on-line resources that can help you get started as a freelancer, and it may be useful to sign up to sign-up to service that can help hook you up with potential clients. Freelancer is a good example and they can align you with contracts. Before diving in and getting started it's important to establish a clear set of requirements with the client, don't commit to things that you can't deliver. Draw up a contract setting out the requirements, time-scales and importantly how much you will get paid on completion. Be aware that this maybe fixed if using a hook up service. Once a project is under way its important to stick to the brief, remember wasted time is time that could be spent earning money! Keep the client regularly updated with progress of the project, this will help build trust and a relationship that will hopefully lead to further work in the future. Deliver what was asked for and meet the deadline agreed in the contract. Once complete ask for feedback, again this will help you build the relationship with the client. More importantly it will help you improve and allow you to focus on what could have gone better. Its often said that you are only as good as your last job. 

Some of the benefits and drawbacks of working as a freelancer are listed below:

Benefits

• You are your own boss
• flexible working
• Can be as creative as you want

Drawbacks

• Lack of job security
• Project based working to tight deadlines which in turn can mean long hours
• High proportion of work time spent looking for new work
• Intense competition

Professionalism in Creative Industries

Being a Professional Web Developer!

W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) is the organisation that produces the development standards for the web. Individual Web Developers, Universities, Government and non-profit Organisations can sign up to be members. Serious professional Web Developers will look to implement and promote these standards in their work to ensure compliance across multiple browsers and devices.

Codes of Conduct

W3C have developed a code of ethics and professional conduct standards. These standards look to promote high standards of professional practice and define accepted and acceptable behaviours for professionals working in the web development industry. Professional standards encourage members to behave ethically, and drive the implementation of these standards. 

There is a need for standards in Web Development given the variation of browser and devices technologies now being used by clients and their customers. These standards have been developed to try and ensure the end users experience is the same regardless of the technology they are using. It would be unacceptable and unethical to develop a web site, web application or native app for a client that only looked great or functioned properly on one browser technology or device type but not on another. Paying Clients expect this element of professionalism as a given. 

W3C run a validation service that allows professional web developers to validate code against the developed standards. This validation ensures compliance across multiple technologies. Validation and compliance are a must especially when the client is paying for a professional service. 

In the wider IT industry institutional organisations like the BCS and IEEE implement and drive forward their codes of conduct and responsibility. The Computer Ethics Institute have gone a step further and have published the Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics to again drive forward ethical working practices within the wider industry. 

Working to standards and behaving in the correct manner are key parts of being a professional web developer.




 

What makes a good web development portfolio

Creating your own distinctive brand

Creating a brand and identity allows you to showcase both technical skill and your individual identity to potential clients or employers, in many ways you want your portfolio to tell a story about you!

Make use of robust popular frameworks/CMS, industry standard tools and techniques to develop a portfolio site, this not only facilitates the development of your own brand and identity quickly but also showcases technical skill I.e. demonstrate that you can code!

Travis Neilson is someone whom I follow on line particularly his YouTube tutorials. Travis currently works at Google but in his spare time he runs his own YouTube channel DevTips. DevTips covers a number of Web Development topics with an emphasis on design and brand. One play list of particular interest that I think everyone should check out before embarking on the development of their own portfolio site is a series where Travis goes through the development of his own personal portfolio website. 

Travis started his career in graphic design and in the series he makes frequent reference to design and the importance of creating something that showcases his skills and talent, creating the brand Travis Neilson - TN.

Skills and Education

A good portfolio site should feature your educational history and any skills you have obtained. Showing what you have learned and what you are capable of can go a long way and helps demonstrate your personal level of dedication to a career in web development. 

Testimonials with links to Previous Work

Obtain testimonials from previous clients, employers or colleagues who can provide valuable feedback on previous projects you have delivered or collaborated on. Add value to your testimonials by including any mock-ups, design sketches, wireframes and screenshots/extracts of code (Javascript etc.) This again helps illustrate your skill/talent and your ability to develop/build a project up.