The offending advert
For the past 2 months we have had a problem with a Facebook insurance business using one of our images in their advertising. This was mildly flattering at first but we asked them politely to stop and indeed the image was no longer used as their profile picture. However, soon after this we began receiving emails, Tweets and FB posts from our follower who had received advertising from this business with the same image included. The sheer number of people that have made contact with us about this advert must suggest that it is fairly wide-spread. The more worrying part of this is that many assumed that we somehow endorse, recommend or are otherwise behind the services advertised. We would like to say categorically that we are not.
The business connected to the Facebook page is not entirely apparent. The telephone numbers connected to the adversing go to an insurance brokerage company that claim no knowledge of it. After further investigation we traced the owners to a US based online advertising business. We have since made direct contact with them and again asked the to desist from using our image in their promotion. We have also asked, as restitution, that they make a donation of £1000 to The Princes Trust. We will keep you posted as to what happens.
Of course if any reputable British businesses wish to use us as the face of their adversing campaign and throw a wodge of cash at us please don’t be shy about getting in touch 😉 MrB the face of Triumph motorcycles, Lucan the face of Merrythought Bears and MrsB the rear-end of Kinky Knickers… We like the sound of that!
Well done you!!! I have been plagued by notifications on FB from a project I have not endorsed, nor would do so, despite my privacy settings, and FB wouldn’t help at all. I have had to block so many unknown individuals that it spoils the innocent pleasure of a catch-up with friends and family. Just you keep up your good work and the brilliant information and pleasure that gives!
From what I’m reading Facebook is an absolute pain in the backside.
Glad I’ve kept away.
Intellectual Property theft is the bane of my life as everything good we do is ripped off by unscrupulous Chinese and now even a “UK registered company” website has appeared with my photos and videos all over it – they even ripped of our tagline slogan !
The problem is how to stop them or at least make them use their own materials.
I can put you in touch with a good IP attorney if you need one! Highly recommended.
This is not actually intellectual property theft: Facebook’s Terms of Service that you agree to with a click when you sign up explicitly say that they reserve the right to use any of your pictures for advertisements. So DON’T PUT PICTURES ON FACEBOOK. I don’t think these terms are fair in any way, but they still exist.
This is sort of true. My understanding is that Facebook may use your images in advertising not 3rd parties. Our issue was with a 3rd parties use of our imagery. Either way, you certainly need to be careful about what you put out there… not just on Facebook.