Permission to use

VanessaJW · May 13th, 2007, 16:57

Hmmm, this legal matters sub-forum is very quiet, but I think it's the right place to post this question, so I'll see what happens...

I'm doing a site for a friend who has a sign making business, and on the site he wants to include photographs of various shop fronts and vehicles that he has done. The photos are ones that he has taken, so there's no problem with rights to the photos, but does anyone know if we would we require permission from the businesses that have been photographed to include them on the site as examples of his work?

(That is of course if he ever gets round to sending me the pictures that I've been waiting almost two weeks for!)

jacktanner · May 14th, 2007, 02:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanessaJW

Hmmm, this legal matters sub-forum is very quiet, but I think it's the right place to post this question, so I'll see what happens...

Well, you're in England, and I'm in the States, so I don't know your laws.
But if your friend were a photographer, I imagine he could post photos of public spaces such as storefronts.

The safest policy, of course, is to talk to your client's clients, and get their permission in writing.

VanessaJW · May 14th, 2007, 05:40

Thanks for the reply. Knowing my friend though, he's not going to bother to get written permission unless there's a law saying he has to.

It's occured to me that this is exactly the same as web designers putting up examples of websites they've done on their own site - do they get the client's written permission to do that? My first thought was that it wouldn't be necessary because storefronts and websites are on public display anyway, but then I imagined a possible situation where I had someone do a storefront (or website) for me say, and I was really unhappy with the work, or the service they provided, would I take exception to it being used as an example to help promote their business?

I think it's slightly different to a photographer posting a photo of a storefront, because in that situation the photo is the actual work, rather than the subject of the photo if you know what I mean?

I think I'm going to have to do a bit more research on the laws, it's worrying me a bit

Lchad · May 14th, 2007, 11:44

Can you imagine a store owner ever turning down more exposure?
At worst they will probably ask you to take the photo down.

VanessaJW · May 14th, 2007, 12:08

You're right. I think I just worry too much!

Ryan Fait · May 19th, 2007, 02:43

Hehe, yeah, don't worry about this one.

JacobHaug · May 19th, 2007, 20:40

Yeah, I would not really worry about it...lol.