If a client reneges on an agreement without a contract, can we withhold the site content/design?
How do you handle content ownership with regards to clients.
We had a contract for development of a site, and gave a (generous) discount for the promise (unsigned contract) of future work. Unfortunately, relations between us and the client blew up and we're left holding the bag. They held out on signing the contractual commitment for the future work with innumerable excuses, and we went ahead and did the work anyway. He has after all, paid (the heavily discounted) invoice for work done (that contains no provisos regarding content ownership). Now he's asking to take it elsewhere and we want to know if we have rights to refuse.
For those curious, the relationship blew up over a 50% deposit on unrelated print work. We refused to continue work without the deposit (to pay the printer with) as we couldn't pay for all printing out of our own pockets forever and the contract did state that there was a 50% deposit. After accusing us of price "guaging" (sic), we were threatened with lawsuits if we didn't hand over the completed work. The work is done. But, with the "verbal agreement" for future work and hosting in the dust I'm not sure how to proceed.