The Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects has issued warnings that firms are being targeted by international scammers, with others being coerced into giving away services for free.

They announced that it has come to the Institute’s attention that there may currently be one or more international scams targeting Australian architecture firms.

According to the Institute: “Various sources indicate that the scammers usually first approach with an email containing a proposal for the firm to design a significant project commission, often a hotel or hospital or housing development. The email is very flattering (a common feature of scams) to the particular firm’s design philosophy or profile which they claim to have seen in the firm’s website.

The writer purports to be masquerading as an officer of either a Qatari or Kuwaiti firm, appearing to be a large conglomerate involved in a number of industries, which has been awarded the construction of these projects. Click here (PDF) to read on.

Don’t give away free IP

Meanwhile, the Institute announced: “While no-one would argue with the need for competition in our economy, the Institute regularly becomes aware of instances where architects are being subtly (or otherwise) coerced into giving valuable intellectual property (including advice, project work and/or design services) to clients without payment.”

The Institute strongly recommends that architectural practices should not submit to this approach, which happens in no other profession and which is patently unfair and arguably unethical.

In some cases, five or more firms are asked to donate their IP for no reward, and with no effective guarantee that their creative product won’t be used without their authority and potentially to benefit their competitors.

Ultimately, to protect the best interests of our profession practices need to put a proper value on their IP, and be prepared to say ‘no’ when they are asked to give it away

Architecture & Design Team

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