Steelh
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2014
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Caifornia
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos NOT OK to edit
Hi There-
Much to my surprise, today when I went to look at some model homes in a new development offered by a large, well known residential home builder in southern California, I opened their fancy 12-page color brochure to find a 1/3 page picture of my small business, featured prominently on the inside cover of the brochure. It's obvious that the picture was taken from inside my business during regular business hours. I own a small, hip retail business in a city close to this development and in the photo you can see customers in my store, me at the register, and my business sign very clearly in the background.
I did not give consent for this commercial use, had no idea the picture was taken, and its a shock to me. In the meantime, the builder is offering about 90 homes for sale starting from the mid-$500,000's.
For me it's more the principal of the matter than anything else, but I'm also assuming that I should have received some compensation for the use of the photo. We've worked hard to build our "brand" and I can understand why the builder would want to have a photo of our business in their brochure, but the lack of professionalism is not cool. This is a multi-billion dollar builder who's marketing and advertising team should know better. And of course, at this point, I have no idea if they're using this or any other unauthorized photo of my business in other marketing materials.
Any guidance would be helpful.
Thanks!
Much to my surprise, today when I went to look at some model homes in a new development offered by a large, well known residential home builder in southern California, I opened their fancy 12-page color brochure to find a 1/3 page picture of my small business, featured prominently on the inside cover of the brochure. It's obvious that the picture was taken from inside my business during regular business hours. I own a small, hip retail business in a city close to this development and in the photo you can see customers in my store, me at the register, and my business sign very clearly in the background.
I did not give consent for this commercial use, had no idea the picture was taken, and its a shock to me. In the meantime, the builder is offering about 90 homes for sale starting from the mid-$500,000's.
For me it's more the principal of the matter than anything else, but I'm also assuming that I should have received some compensation for the use of the photo. We've worked hard to build our "brand" and I can understand why the builder would want to have a photo of our business in their brochure, but the lack of professionalism is not cool. This is a multi-billion dollar builder who's marketing and advertising team should know better. And of course, at this point, I have no idea if they're using this or any other unauthorized photo of my business in other marketing materials.
Any guidance would be helpful.
Thanks!