brent_h

Things seem to be turning around a bit with this situation. I sent out an email to about

150 people on the league. In addition, I sent an email to a few city officails, and council

members that have supported what we are doing.

I recieved many emails today from supporters of what we are doing. I even received a faily

civil email from the person I believe to have started this whole thing.

We may be in good shape now. I was really impressed by the fact that a few of the top

attornies in town were willng to help by donating thier time. They stated they would make

sure we were in compliance and then defend us if needed.

Not sure what action was responsible for this rapid turn of events but the email must have

reached a few level headed individuals. I hope this is the end but I will now be double

checking our actions to insure they are proper.

Thanks again for the feedback of everyone!

I would like to thank everyone for thier responses. I have been reading this site for over a

year on a daily basis. I love the content.

I understand where this photographer is coming from. I wish he had approached me

directly about this issue. The website we have is for promoting all types of community

businesses. His would have fit on the site great. I would not have felt threathend at all by

his presense on our site. I know people would have bought his professional quality prints

and still come to our site to see our snapshots as well. It is to late for that. He appears to

have poisned the well. I am not sure how far he has gone to creat trouble.

In response to the Real Estate Question: I am surrounded in California by agents that

undercut the commision I charge. I rarley lose a customer on price given the fact we do

offer a better customer experience and product. When we do we are probably better off

anyway.

I mainly read the wedding photography board as one day I would like to do that in

retirement. I see posts like this all the time and really do understand the issue.

I have consulted with several attornies since this posting and they have graciously donated

thier time to help us comply with the civil code and allow us to continue to do what we are

doing.

I have learned through this process that some sports leagues have the Model Release built

in to the sign up sheet to avoid these issues.

Like someone posted already, I should have done more research!

I just received a call from an attorney that is "Putting me on Notice" as he states. I have a

community website that we have put together for community use but it is sponsored by

my Real Estate business.

I have photos of local events and school sports photos. The photos on our site are free to

download. They are mosltly of school sporting events. A local photographer emailed me

a week or so ago and basically stated that I was taking money out his pockey by posting

free pictures of the local little league. I was not concerned until I got a call from an

attorney stating I was violating civil code 3344.

I thought we were just taking photos for the kids? All of the parents I have spoken to gave

us oral permission to post them on our website. The attorney stated because we have

them on technically a commercial site that we are in violation of this code. My business is

on the site as a site sponsor as well as many others. We have even told eveyone that we

are posting the photos to promote a new community website.

Now something that has been fun for everyone (I guess not for the photographer that has

started this) involved has turned into a mess. The little league I am taking most of the

pictures for gave us permission to take them and even had a board meeting about it.

What to do? I am in California.

Any advice? Thanks