Casting a reality check on real-world conundrums
Quote, unquote
if my feedback came from a
caring place, I would not have
a problem with it appearing
on my friend’s Web site. In fact,
my own name and logo would
receive additional exposure.
In friendship, however, I would
remind him to obtain permission
in the future to use feedback and
logos—protocol shows a level of
professionalism.
—Carol Kivler, CSP
Lawrence, N.J.
What outcome do
you want? You could
assert legal rights or
moral outrage, but is
that the best way to
deal with a friend? If the
goal is to keep a friend
and stop the conduct,
I’d make a phone call
and leave the lawyer
at home.
—Mark Partridge, JD
Chicago, Ill.
After attending your NSA friend’s
speech at a regional chamber of
commerce, you follow up with an email
full of positive feedback. While browsing
your friend’s Web site months later,
you discover excerpts from your e-mail
accompanied by your name and your
company logo. Your friend did not
obtain your permission to quote you or
use your logo, and you feel awkward
about confronting him about it.
How would you handle this situation?
What would you say or do?
I would phone my
friend—this conversation should not be via
email—and let him
know I saw it. I’d then
mention that I didn’t
remember giving him
permission to print
my comments, and
then I’d tell him that I
will grant my permission in writing. I’d also
mention how important it is to gain permission to reprint anyone’s
comments.
—Marsha Egan, CPCU
Reading, Penn
I’d say, “I really like to keep tabs
on where my ‘sound-bites’ are
posted—either in print, on the
Web, or on TV/radio. If you’d like
to use my quotes in the future,
please let me know. I’m also
keeping tight control on my
logo, so I’d appreciate knowing where it appears. That way,
the Web sites that use it can
have the latest version when I
update it. “
—Jean Palmer Heck
Indianapolis, Ind.
