Do I own it now?

For anyone who remembers, I made a thread about my developer screwing me over.

Anyways, we got back to the project. We made an agreement that it would be done by the Wednesday following, or it would be free for me. We got into an argument Monday because he did something wrong, so I asked him to change it. He told me no, that it would take too long. I told him that if I'm paying for something, I want it done how I ask for it to be done.

The project was cancelled after this because once again he told me like I was treating him like a slave and yada yada. Just a quick question, in your opinions, is the script mine for free? We did have an agreement, argument or not. Legal contracts aren't cancelled over a minor argument.

 

Unless he has a very good lawyer, yes.
A very good lawyer can change the cards very easily.

 

Was there a signed contract or was it just a verbal contract? If it was verbal, you can't do anything about it.

 

actually, a verbal contract can be as good as a signed contract if you have witnesses.

 

That's true. Either way I'm not expert on the laws that would come in effect. Without a clear written contract it can be arbitrary as to what was agreed upon.

In the future you should go with a contract so you can prevent situations like this and be protected from douche developers/designers.

 

I think it should belong to you. The only thing that I see wrong is that if he didn't do it by a certain day it would be free. Personally, if I didn't finish something when it was due and then had to do it for nothing, I would give up. That's what he did and probably why you're in this situation.

 

If your developer is under 18, no. He can void the contract basically at will. If he's over 18 it's still probably no

 

It was an MSN conversation where I told him what I wanted, he agreed, and I screenshotted it. He also said that if it wasn't done by Wednesday then I will get it free.

I already have it. Just wondering if I can use it.

I'm not scared of legal issues arising, just of ethical things.

 

it should be yours if you made an agreement.

 

It's your if you both made the agreement at the start, personal matters don't fall into place in this.

 

Just screenshotted won't help. Screenshots can be edited very easily.