 What to do when your code is stolen?
RiderOfGiraffes: OK, there's more emerging as we delve deeper.Firstly, it appears that you worked on this web site only outside of the hours you were being paid for.  Is that right?Secondly, you were doing this work in the time allocated to your own company as an opportunity to show what was possible.  Is this right?Thirdly, during the time you were being paid for, you worked only and exclusively on what you were asked to do. Is this right?If so, then so far so good.  Now the problems start.Fourthly, at some point you demonstrated the web site you'd developed running on your own server.  Is that right?Fifthly, you were specifically requested to transfer the web site to a server they had control of.  Is that right?Sixthly, you did so, without mentioning payment or issues of ownership.  Is that right?Why should they think it wasn't theirs?  Did you ever say to them that it was yours, not theirs, and that you were going to offer it in exchange for payment?What seems clear is that there is scope for confusion.  From what you've been saying it seems completely reasonable that they think they own it.  If you think otherwise then you must explain not your point of view, but their point of view.Consider.  They were paying you.  You produced this.  What did you do or say to make it clear that the two things aren't related?EDIT: If it comes to some sort of arbitration - what evidence do you have that the work is yours?