.
Google

AddThis Social Bookmark Button Post this question to del.icio.us   Post this question to digg   Post this question to blinklist   Post this question to Furl   Post this question to YahooMyWeb   Simpify! this news item   Post this question to shadows   Post this question to Spurl   Post this question to BuddyMarks Social bookmark this page

Can a former employee use photographs of jobs completed whie working for me in marketing material for a new business?


What is the definition of unfair business practices in regard to moral rights or trade secrets? I am a specialty contractor in Texas, licensed and insured. I specialize in the installation of custom built fences and decks. I had an employee that worked for me for approx. 4 months. This employee has never been in this industry before working for my company. After 4 months of employment, he quit, and decided he knew the fence industry, and wanted to start his own fence company, in the same area. The ex employee took the knowledge I gave him in secret and confidence that gave me economic advantage over competitors, and used that knowledge for self gain. I have a Marketing and Advertising Consultant, which I pay top dollar, and this employee went to them to start his own business. Along with the knowledge I taught him, he also took pictures of a few completed projects that I contracted and completed, and put them on his website, claiming them as his own. My question...Is this a legitimate civil lawsuit against the ex-employee for taking pictures of projects that were completed under my license and insurance, and posting them on a website through this advertising consultant, and claiming this as his pictures of completed projects under his business name? The contract that was signed by the homeowner was sold by me, designed by me, I did the material take-off for the job, I scheduled the job, I hired this man as a sub-contractor for the job, I was present during installation on the project, I did the walk-thru with the homeowner after production, myself and the homeowner signed the Completion Certificate in regard to the project with them acknowledging they were satisfied with the materials and service rendered in compliance per our contract...the ex-employee was just a helper to build the project.Period. Does this give him the right to take photos of the project, and allow him to post the photos of a website, as if he were the one to design, sell and build the project shown in the pictures. The website consist of approx. 12 photos of projects that I contracted, and completed, but he posted them as if he was the designer and contractor on the projects. I fell that under Standard of Professional Conduct this is not right, and a violation of ethics. I feel this has caused irreparable harm to my business. Your knowledge will be of great help. And, if you are here in Texas and for hire please contact me via e-mail.

Have a question? Ask your legal question now and get answer in a few minutes. Know the answer? Lawyers or knowledgeable lay persons may provide informative responses to this and other questions by contacing us for instructions. Receive linkbacks to your website for helping.
Related Law Articles

Related Law Questions


Search for other answers or ask a legal expert for as little as $15.

Related Law Bulletins

Lawyers! Become an Approved Expert to Answer Questions.
US Law
#1 Online Legal Resource









Click here






Your Blog Subscriptions
Subscribe to blogs

10,000+ Law Job Listings
Lawyer . Police . Paralegal . Etc
Earn a law-related degree


Practice Area
Zip Code:

Contact a Lawyer Now!












Click here
0.3807 secs