So if I take something from a shop and dont pay for it, the business owners can simply phone the police and have me arrested. Why then can we not do the same when clients knowingly avoid paying for services provided? Its basically the same thing isnt it? Im not often prone to airing my dirty laundry on Facebook, but at this point I feel I ought to, if only to name and shame a local business that feels its ok to steal from other small, local businesses. I started my own product photography business at the beginning of this year; its been going well because I get to know my clients personally and we work on mutual trust; they trust that Ill do a good job and will return their items untarnished, and theyll pay me afterwards, whenever theyre ready; I trust them to do that as most of my clients are new start businesses & cash flow can be an issue for them. Earlier this year Petra Schiffer trading as Spruced Goose Designer Childrenswear ordered the photography of just under 100 items, thats nearly 300 images I produced for her. She accepted the images and is currently using them on her website and social media channels, including Facebook. Shes also to date, refused to pay for them. Is it just me or does that sound a bit like theft? Ive tried my best to work it out amicably, to be mislead, evaded and just plain ignored by Petra. Ive completed a claim in the small courts, but they already have one CCJ to their name so wheres the threat of a second? I even served Notice & Takedown to their ISP but European law makes it so UK based hosting companies can just ignore my request; in the United States her website would have already been taken down. It seems that even though as photographers we own the rights to the images we create, were virtually powerless to prevent flagrant theft. Spruced Goose sell some nice things and I certainly cant stop anyone from buying from Petra, but if youre of a mind to buy items for your children from businesses that behave in an ethical manner, it might be best to give them a miss.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 08:15:16 +0000
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