Thread: My personal website

Ok, I've have sorta gotten the web-dev fever. I decided I would make my own personal website that is pretty much going to be an extension of my resume. With that said, I've completed the top page with drop down menus that will eventually point towards pages. Admittedly, I've borrowed concepts from other websites, as a reference point, but have tailored my code to suit my means (I didn't use the other code to make my website, but rather looked at how it was done and made my code)

A few questions..... is it unethical to use one's concept even if you go about it differently? I mean, the whole drop down menu thing, a lot of sites use the suckerfish script that I can tell..... Secondly, when a website is copyrighted, does that prohibit others from duplicating any part of your website? Then comes the issue of pictures. If they are not copyrighted, can you use any pic that you can find? Yeah, I know, there are tons of free web-pics, but finding one to suit your needs can be a chore.

Finally, here is my website: sbenj69 website. What do you think? What should be changed? Colors ok? Design? Give me your honest opinion.

I like the image of "hand over matrix numbers"

Personally i would like the links for home, etc.; to be either shifted to extreme right on present bar, or shift them to top right.

Also the top purple bar and bottom blue bar doesnt seem to match too much

Sorry, but u asked for "honest" opinion

Personally I think there may be a few too many colours.

I assume the Home / Links / Fun / Contact links will be made into buttons like the other menu items?

Other than that, looks pretty good...

In terms of copyright etc. you will find a legal statement on most websites stating that all images, content etc. are copyrighted and can't be used without permission. I'm not sure if that extends to specific code. I think most JS type scripts include a comment section at the top stating the copyright situation. There are alot of sites out there that provide free scripts for dropdown menus and the like.

I agree with M and RR about the colors and what not.

As far as the copyright, have a look here: Copyright - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. That sums it up pretty well. When it comes to web development, it's really impossible to prevent someone from duplicating any part of your site. I also wouldn't be too worried if they did...they'll probably just use the concept and modify it to their needs...afterall...that's how many of us learned how to design web sites

Unethical to use a concept...not at all. If it was, we'd all be very unethical. It's unethical (IMO) to take someone's exact design, or script, and use it without giving credit or making it your own. Whenever I use someone else's JavaScript, for example...I always provide any comments and copyright statements they provide. If they provide none, I simply place a comment that the source for the script was from such-and-such site.

thanks guys..... heh, I changed the colors, it used to be blue (purple) on blue. I changed the lighter blue to dark grey, but forgot to change the footer in css, lol. Does that look purple to you guys? It's blue on my monitors......

As far as too many colors.... do you think I should be looking for a different main photo that has more blue in it rather than green?

It looks blue to me.

I would look at some other sites, benji, to get the feel. Also, this is a great tool for coming up with a colorscheme: ColorSchemer - Online Color Scheme Generator

Finally, I would suggest, due to your limited content, that you use a fixed-width design. Meaning, it doesn't spread the full width of the screen.

Wow, copyright is a confusing subject to say the least -- especially now in the digital and internet age.

Technically (as I understand it), if I put (for example say) an image on my website that I've created, and you download that image and put it on your website -- then you've violated my intellectual copyright to that image, regardless of whether you give me credit for it or not. There is (or at least was some years ago) that even placing a link to another website on your own website constituted a republishing of intellectual property and thus a copyright violation. Back when I worked for a large company (defined as any company that has a legal department that needs to justify itself), we determined that it was OK to post a link to the main page of a website (e.g. DeveloperBarn Forums - ASP Help, ASP Programming, ASP Code, PHP Help, PHP Code) but where not allowed to link to any specific page within the website.

In all probability, if you find an image on the web that you like, and include it on your website, you are violating someone's copyright. However, unless you are ripping off Disney, SGK or Pixar, the owner probably won't care, or the very worst ask you to take it down. FWIW, I don't need to do anything specific to claim a copyright on intellectual property, so assume that everything is protected unless specifcally in the public domain.

Now for a really snarking discussion, what about the posting of pictures (other than you're own mug) on Facebook!

Originally Posted by Wolffy

Now for a really snarking discussion, what about the posting of pictures (other than you're own mug) on Facebook!

That's an interesting one.....According to a photographer friend of mine, unless you add some sort of copyright text to the image (watermark or straight text) the copyright belongs to facebook...

He always adds a copyright image to anything he posts on facebook...

I think Facebook has reversed that policy -- tho one could make the argument that posting there, a really large social network, is akin to releasing the image into the public domain. Really good idea include a copyright.

I was thinking more however of the person in the image. While the photographer hold the copyright to the image, the subject still holds right to what can be done with the image. Not really a copyright issue tho -- I still love to see a court challenge on this.

Hmmm...Hadn't really thought of that...Should you need people in the photo to sign a release note?

I suppose those that are your friends and can see the image can ask for it to be removed by Facebook if they're particularly offended...