Job Discussion Forums

[Sweetsee]

Does a one-year-contract entitle a company to use your image on it's website without permission?

[JimDunlop2]

Good friggin' question. I've wondered that, as I know many people who have been victims of drive-by advertising.... Of course without permission. But I have never had a chance to find out the legality of it. Can you contact legal aid or a lawyer?

[canuck]

You guys are getting way too carried away! I'm guessing your high school put your picture on the website. Obviously, they had to take your picture at some time. Why didn't you voice your displeasure then? However, if you feel uncomfortable or your rights have been violated, why don't you just tell them that you don't feel comfortable having your picture on display. Most likely they would be happy to take it down. It's another thing if you worked for NOVA and they are using you for their national marketing campaign etc, but you're obviously making a mountain out of a mole hill.

[JimDunlop2]

Sure it's minor.. But it's also the principle of the thing. In some areas Japan is the Wild, Wild West where people pretty much do as they please, and this seems to be one of them. I'm sure a simple request would be sufficient but I AM curious as to the legalities surrounding this for purely academic reasons.

[womblingfree]

I was put in promotional magazines/materials long after I'd left the company. Never got a penny and was never asked permission. That was at Aeon. Legal? Probably not, but like most Eikaiwa's they'll do what they can get away with.

My co-worker always absolutely refused to be photographed by members of staff even when put under pressure. That's pretty much the only way to avoid it.

[Glenski]

It doesn't matter, Sweetsee, if you are on a 1-year contract or if you are tenured. What you might want to look into is whether they can legally continue posting your face after you finish working there. At my own school, we have at least one pamphlet for the school that shows a teacher who hasn't been employed here for over 6 years. Don't know if that's legal, but it happens.

For now, consider it flattery. I've been at my school for 4 years and have never been pictured in the pamphlets.

[azarashi sushi]

My picture is on the website of an eikaiwa I first worked at when I came to Japan five years ago. I only worked there five months! It doesn't bother me but I don't think it's unreasonable to ask them to take it off if it does bother you.

[Sweetsee]

Thanks Glenski good point. Not bothered at all just mentioning it Canuck.
Who cares anyway?

[gaijinalways]

I would imagine usually I wouldn't care, except if people were asking me, "Oh, you still work at Ripoff English Academy?" when you actually teach full time at a university or won your own academy with a better name !

[Sweetsee]

A friend's picture is used on train posters for a company he works for, he said he never got a cent. I can't rememeber the name of the outfit offhand but if I did you would know his picture, really.

[king kakipi]

[Sweetsee]

Yeah, that's my friend, Ewan!

[gaijinalways]

I talked to someone who did train ads for her company, and she did get renumeration, but not much considering she is in two of their train video commericals. But could be a great lead-in for private lessons like, "Maybe you have you seen me teaching on the train videos?"

[womblingfree]

[Sweetsee]

Don't agree with you about Ewan Wombler. That campaign came on the heels of Trainspotting and Shallow Grave and he was way popular. Dion road the Titanic wave in as well, hugely popular film here.