I hope this is an appropriate place for this post, if not, my apologies.

WHile perusing my statcounter stats today, i noticed many, many pageloads from one visitor. I investigated and found it was from a law firm in South Carolina ([removed name] is the name of the firm). They systematically looked at almost EVERY design in my store.

This worries me. Has anybody else had law firms perusing their sites? Why would one do this? Does it mean somebody contacted them regarding my rights to my designs?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Teesed,

Well, who knows? It could be as innocent as someone working at a law firm looking for a shirt.

Where did the visit originate? Was it a direct incoming visit or from a link? Did they look at anything that would be considered to be a grey area?

I'm going to remove the firm name, just to help you out.

I saw the firm name before it got erased...lol...unless someone bought a shirt from you and suffered a brain injury from wearing it...I think you are safe.

Probably a bored employee...I see plenty of those.

I had a District Attorney's office employee browsing one of my sites and I got an order for 50 custom caps.

Hugs
Susan

Thanks to both of you.....the visitor came directly to the shop home page, no referring site. The order they browsed sections was the exact order that they appeared in the menu bar. They started at the beginning and worked their way through, so it didn't appear they had any specific design they wanted to check out.

It just looked very systematic and they spent so much time and looked so thoroughly that it made me suspicious. Maybe I should be flattered instead that someone spent an hour looking at my site.

Nothing that appeared to be a grey area, and I know for a fact that none of my designs contains the word "caution."

Good thing I didn't have any off-color lawyer humor up.....

Teesed - thanks for removing the firm name, I wasn't sure about putting it in.

I've had Federal employees spend goofy amounts of time visiting my stores - including homeland security office-type checking out one of my silly "terrorist themed" shirts, which they bought. (It was not a political statement - it was a novelty shirt).

It was at this point I realized how some people, in whatever line of work, have senses of humor too and surf from work (on taxpayer dollars, I might add).

I know what you mean, though, about how it appears and makes you feel. Just remember that stats are more than a little grey - you can't always discern colors of "I'm being watched" or anything sinister - not all the time. Just work hard to avoid infringements before putting products up, writing descriptions or keywords, etc. Try not to get overly analytical in that sense.

Nice what Susan said - about that firm appearing to specialize in medical/injury cases. That'd make me relax a bit more, too.

I looked at the firm's site, which listed their areas of practice, and copyright infringement wasn't on the list, so that and the above comments did set me at east a bit. Thanks to all of you for your input.

I get those too.Most likely someone doing some shopping.If there is a problem you will find out soon enough.I freaked a bit the first time i had hits from a firm.Probably nothin to worry about.

I agree it could be an employee who works at a law firm looking at your shop. One question, do you have any designs that can possibly be an infringement? Did you check the trademark search site? If not, you have nothing to worry about. You would have heard from a lawyer by now if there was a problem. I get visitors from all around the world and from different companies.

Summer

Once my main website was posted on a conspiracy theory forum/website... (it's not really related to my site but it somehow got posted there). I then witnessed MANY government IP's visiting my site as a result! lol... bored employees? Or BIG BROTHER?!? lol... I suppose I'll never know ...

I just noticed a law firm looking at my site - it was only four pages but now I'm freaking! I always check for trademarks before uploading anything, everything I do is hand drawn, so I think I'm okay, but yikes! I'm going to stop looking at my stats!

Breathe It never occurred to me to be worried about the law firms, IRS etc that I see from time to time. I figure they have interests outside their job just like I do. I know I've sold stuff to people coming in from law firms and government agencies. Really. It is just one of those things. Everyone in this business faces the risk of accidental infringement. It is just part of the business so just do your best and let the anxiety flow away.

quote:

Everyone in this business faces the risk of accidental infringement.

That's the part that scares me!

Well, no men in black have appeared at my door to serve me with papers, so I'm going with the theory that it was just a bored employee.

Geez, if they're going to scare the bewillikers out of me the least they can do is buy something.

I haven't had an problems with content since an early-on brush with the Caution Guy.

Wow sounds scary, what is the link to your store by the way?

quote:

Originally posted by Tanith:
Breathe It never occurred to me to be worried about the law firms, IRS etc that I see from time to time.

IRS??