Corset front, purple

I think you have more than kept your end of the bargin. The client is out of biz and you still need to eat. I say

Make your corsets and sell hundreds of pieces.

Best of Luck,

I am with Albane - You have done every reasonable thing you could and you should no longer be held hostage. I understand verbal contracts but again, without the other party holding up their end of the contract, I would say that said contract is now null and void! If it would make you feel better, perhaps you could speak with an attorney - legal aid would be good - and they would probably say you are free from obligation. You might place an ad in a couple of newspapers, under legal notices, announcing your intent and then move on and sell your corsets.

Beautiful designs and wonderful workmanship. You should be rightfully be able to make a living from your work and no longer have to wait to move forward.

Wish you all the best - when you get up and running, please let us know how you are doing!

I am not familiar with the legislation in other places, but to me the reasonable way to interpret your "verbal contract" is that you gave exclusive rights to her business, not her as a physical person. (Swedish law can make a difference between "legal person" such as a company, and a physical person) Since the legal person (her business) apparently no longer exists the agreement no longer exists.

If you want to be absolutely sure that you do not leave any uncertainties, send her a letter (paper) in which you inform her that "I interpret our agreement this way..." and that you take the rights back since the conditions under which the agreement was made no longer exists. If you want to be extra, extra certain, add a passage that "is I do not hear from you before ...date... I will take it that you accept/agree"

I also agree with Saturnstar that an ad might be a way.

Lasse C

PS

Nice corset, BTW - wonderful colour!

Thanks for the comments.

I feel comfortable that there are no legal issues remaining regarding using the designs; it's just the ethics that had me a bit troubled.

I've decided to use the patterns, but tweak the design details--more in keeping to the theme of my 'Ren Faire flare' shop--rather than the dominatrix style of my former client. Hopefully I'll get back to making them soon...

Jen