Can anyone offer any advice on this situation.

Awhile back I advertised to do a free showreel on mandy.com. I get to use the showreel to show off my editing skills & the person gets to use the showreel to gain work. The person sent me a VHS video of various of their TV work, they also emailed me loads of photos. I edited it altogether & upped the finished project to You Tube & on my web site.

Initially they were really happy with the show reel, then after about 5 days they told me to take it off You Tube & my web site as they were quitting the business. I removed from You Tube but left on my site.

They then got in touch with my ISP asking for it to be removed, and the ISP asked me to do so or they would.

The person is telling me they own copyright off their pictures, as do the photographers who took the pictures as do BBC & Channel 5 for whom the clips were edited.

I spent approx 30 hours editing this footage so have I completely wasted my time, was it all a rip off if this person never had the copyright to use. I still have every email relating to the matter but no signed contract.

Anyone got any ideas? Cheers.