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timk85 · 17-03-2010, 10:34

Hey everyone,

I'm just curious to know if I'm legally allowed to use professional work in my online portfolio. I'm currently a contractor for a small marketing firm, haven't signed any legal paperwork, and work at home using my own hardware and software.

Just curious, since I know intellectual property can be a messy legal situation.

OriginalDisco · 17-03-2010, 10:40

Why not just ask them if you can display the work you've done for them in your folio, and say you'll add a caveat saying something like "Produced whilst working for AGENCY" with a link back to their site?

bslate · 17-03-2010, 13:52

Yeah it doesn't hurt to ask. If they say no you can get into the legalities of it. But it depends on your situation. If you are a contractor that goes into the office everyday but just isn't on pay role, you would probably loose the battle.

In the past I have asked my employer if I could use professional work in my personal portfolio. They have requested that I don't - not while working for them at least. (part of this is fear, they know that I did 100% of the work on the project and pretty much run their business) Some contractors in the office do though, but they provide link back to the agency site.

trufcreative · 17-03-2010, 16:45

I agree with the above. It never hurts to ask but you should always put a disclaimer and linkback to the company that owns the intellectual rights to the work if you are going to do it anyway.

Also, you should always ask permission to display work before you are even hired. If not, it ties your hands. How else are freelancers and employees supposed to showcase the work they've created?

d*d · 17-03-2010, 17:13

Ask the agency, but without anything written down there's a chance you don't own the copyright so, as unfair as it may seem you may not have the legal right to reproduce the work online.

Pacey · 17-03-2010, 18:52

yeah I ran into trouble on this issue recently, and had to take the work down. It can be a very protective business, but to be fair I was in the wrong, as contract stated they owned the designs. Didn't come to anything but probably burnt a bridge there.

17-03-2010, 10:34	#1 (permalink)
timk85 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 13	Portfolio Legal Rights Hey everyone, I'm just curious to know if I'm legally allowed to use professional work in my online portfolio. I'm currently a contractor for a small marketing firm, haven't signed any legal paperwork, and work at home using my own hardware and software. Just curious, since I know intellectual property can be a messy legal situation.

17-03-2010, 18:52	#6 (permalink)
Pacey vertical, but horizontal. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bondi Posts: 169	yeah I ran into trouble on this issue recently, and had to take the work down. It can be a very protective business, but to be fair I was in the wrong, as contract stated they owned the designs. Didn't come to anything but probably burnt a bridge there. __________________ Hench / Twitter / LinkedIn

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17-03-2010, 10:40	#2 (permalink)
OriginalDisco TM™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: York Posts: 2,296	Why not just ask them if you can display the work you've done for them in your folio, and say you'll add a caveat saying something like "Produced whilst working for AGENCY" with a link back to their site?

17-03-2010, 13:52	#3 (permalink)
bslate Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 119	Yeah it doesn't hurt to ask. If they say no you can get into the legalities of it. But it depends on your situation. If you are a contractor that goes into the office everyday but just isn't on pay role, you would probably loose the battle. In the past I have asked my employer if I could use professional work in my personal portfolio. They have requested that I don't - not while working for them at least. (part of this is fear, they know that I did 100% of the work on the project and pretty much run their business) Some contractors in the office do though, but they provide link back to the agency site.

17-03-2010, 16:45	#4 (permalink)
trufcreative Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 7	I agree with the above. It never hurts to ask but you should always put a disclaimer and linkback to the company that owns the intellectual rights to the work if you are going to do it anyway. Also, you should always ask permission to display work before you are even hired. If not, it ties your hands. How else are freelancers and employees supposed to showcase the work they've created?

17-03-2010, 17:13	#5 (permalink)
d*d Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 5,042	Ask the agency, but without anything written down there's a chance you don't own the copyright so, as unfair as it may seem you may not have the legal right to reproduce the work online.

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