Copying source codes off the net

Last week, I got a call from a Peter, a prospective client. He wanted to see me for a website. "Can you build me a website, and let me watch you while you build it?, he asked me. "Normally, I build website for a client, and when I hand them over I give them a tutorial on how to maintain it. Or I can give you a web design tutorial and just pay me hourly. We can start by building your own website." I informed him. "Yeah, that would really be nice, I am more interested in the tutorial.I am really computer savvy!", he responded. "Do I need a special software to built websites?" he asked me. "Well, it helps to have these expensive special web building softwares, but it's not necessary. I do need it for my business. If you are only going to build your own website, you do need a simple html editor which you can download for free right off the web. I suggest you do some reading about html codes and I will e-mail the websites you can visit, so you can download the softwares before I come. In this way, we can maximize your tutorial time", I answered. A date was set.

When I came for our appointment, of course my client did not do the reading nor download the softwares I asked him to. "Yeah, I was looking at them and decided to wait for you.", excusing himself. "Okay, let's start by downloading all the softwares you need."I responded, anxious to get to work. "Do you have the sample website you want to build or model your website after?" I asked Peter. "Yeah, I was looking at this website, and i thought we could just copy the codes, and insert our own codes." he answered casually. I looked at him strangely and asked, "Why?"

A week earlier, I was chatting with a school colleague, George and he said the same thing. "How are your projects, George? Are you currently building a website?", he answered,"No, our company have a website already, but i am building one for my daughter. I looked at her favorite website, and tried to copy the source code." I look at him strangely and asked "WHY????"

"Don't you know that you have to clean up the codes first before you put in your own codes? You will have double the work. It is better to build from scratch rather than copy a website right off the net. Secondly, you know that their are copyright issues? You just cant copy someone's work right off the net. Or figuratively, you can, it's just unethical." I exclaimed righteously.

People generally think that when they have a ready made website, that they can ask me for a bargain price to have a website makeover. It is a webmaster's nightmare. I'd rather build a website page from scrath rather than spend my day cleaning up someone else's codes, or in layman's language, someone else's trash.

"Thanks Ming", George came back at me, a week later. "You are right, I save more time building my own website rather than copying someone else's source code."

WHAT TO DO?

I had an appointment at 10:00am, as I dashed to the door. I rushed. I was running in a few minutes late. It was wet and cold outside. Darn, I am underdressed again. I could never get used to winter, be it the freezing German winter(-20 degree below 0 celsius) nor the supposedly pleasant californian bay area winter. No matter where I go, I am conditioned to my tropical roots.

As I rang her company's doorbell, no one answers. Now what? I rang again...shivering from my insides. Where the hell is she? I though we had an appointment at 10:00am ?! Okay, it is now 7 minutes after 10:00am, but where is she? I fumbled inside my purse looking for her phone number. I dialed the number....no answer. While I patiently listened to the dial tone, an incoming call intercepted. "Were you trying to call CN? " a voice asked me. "Hey, Art it's me, Ming! I thought I had an appointment with Carmina!" "Isn't she there?" he asked."She should be there shortly, I'll try to locate her whereabouts". "Alright", I said heading for the warmth of my car."I will wait."

Art rang again and apologized for her. "Ming, she had an emergency, and had to run for the hospital. She said she'll call you. I am sorry!" "Yeah, right!" I muttered to myself. A day later, and I have not heard from her yet. It was not the first time she stood me up.

Why should I even care? The company contracted me to do their website and have generously paid me. However, I cannot finish their website because they are too busy to supply me with the info and materials for the web's contents. Or maybe, their website is not in their high priority list! I could do the layout and graphics, but I can't invent their company's profile, services and history from my imagination.

Since I've been paid already, I could not care less, that's their problem! Or so, I thought! But why do I feel bad about it? I feel that I haven't really done a good job, and I have an unfinished website on my end. They failed to produce the content of the web as agreed on our contract.

One webmaster wrote an article about this webmaster's plight and suggested penalizing a client for not submitting the materials. I can't do that!!!

We were warned in school that chasing the web content material is one of the problems encounted by web designers, even if we were doing the website for free.
Should I just stoically shrug off my shoulders and not care? Or should I persistently nag my clients about their obligation on their end? What to do?