Looking toward 2007
Hello all,
Since I write on an advanced schedule for the magazine, I am rapidly approaching the end of the year for Career-Op.
Seeing 2007 approaching so quickly, I wanted to open up a conversation about what you would like to see covered/addressed in the coming year. My thinking so far has been working on a collection of themes to focus on throughout the year, all based along the main theme of "Helping to Build the Career You Deserve."
I would love to hear what's on your mind when it comes to career issues. I am also planning on making a bigger push in talking to workers of all types myself. This should, hopefully, result in some more interviews for the Career-Op feed.
Here are some questions that are bouncing around in my mind. Maybe that might spur some thoughts that you can pass on to me.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts! -- Douglas
- Are their any new ethical issues surfacing in the work world that make it difficult to work for your company?
- What issues do you see with the increasing lack of loyalty between company and employee? Is their a lack of loyalty at all? Do you have another take on this issue?
- What are your biggest issues in the job search process? Finding job openings?, Resumes? Interviewing? Lack of response? Quiz-based interview process?
- What is your most pressing career question? Can I help you think about it? Can the other listeners/readers of Career-Op? Have you shared it in the forum?
- What were your favorite/least favorite columns in 2006?
(Hint: all of them are available at http://welchwrite.com/career/, if you want to refresh you memory.) - Would you be interested in one-on-one, email/Skype-based career coaching?
posted by Douglas @ 1:02 PM
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6 Comments:
ETHICAL QUESTION:
I have an ethical dilemma with one of the clients for whom I perform webwork.
She has asked me to use images from another website to promote a class she intends to teach. The terms of use for the pattern & images are stated clearly on the other website: for personal, non-commercial use only. When I pointed that out to her, she said that I should re-publish the images anyway and that she would be responsible for any trouble arising from doing so.
I've worked on the Web for over 5 years, and I've been very careful to research intellectual property rights and copyrights, although I'm not a lawyer. What should I do?
Hmmm...First of all, I am NOT a lawyer. (SMILE)
How is the rest of your relationship with this client? It sounds as if they are willing to cut corners. Do they cut corners with you? Is this the first time you've been asked to do something like this?
Sometimes you just have to say no...and take the consequences. Especially if you feel you would be violating your own ethics, which it certainly sounds as if it does. It matters little if "she will be responsible for any trouble arising from doing so.", but you will still be sacrificing your own ethics to do it.
My gut feeling is that I would tell her no. If that breask the relationship, so be it. It will only be a matter of time before she asks you to something even more unethical.
Douglas
You have to do the right thing. She is probably going to do it anyway, with or without your help. If you don't do it then you can walk away knowing you took the high road. You will know you did the right thing.
There was one time when this real-estate lady wanted to remove a telephone pole from in-front of a house before she posted the picture in a newspaper. She said it got in the way. You are not supposed to doctor house pictures in any way, so I didn't do it. She had another guy do it and published it anyways. I know it is a small thing but I would have kicked myself if I had done it.
I am all about support and helping people out but sometimes you just have to say no and deal with the consequences. Her and I still worked together after that, and our relationship was fine. She never asked me to do anything like that again though.
Matt Hull
Casting from the Server Room Podcast
http://www.castingfromtheserverroom.com
I am not a lawyer either, but I am an amateur photographer and I can tell you that if I caught a site using my images for commercial purposes, the take down notice would be going to the host, the company, and the designer, and when the company didn't take them down, the copyright suit would follow to all of you as well. Regardless of what your client has stated about responsibility, you would still be liable for doing it, in my mind, her agreemwnt with you would be between you and her, it's none of my concern.
That being said, especially if she tells you she'd take responsibility without anything in writing, run, don't walk, away from this project.
I'm also not a lawyer, but I am married to one. Pretty cut and dry stuff here as has been stated.
1. Don't do it, you are responsible whether or not your clients says so.
2. Don't do it, your reputation is on the line and we are never obligated to perform unlawful or un-ethical acts while working (consulting or not)
3. As has been stated reconsider or cut ties with this customer as if thye are willing to break a copyright law, what are they willing to do to you ?
Simple... Don't do it.
More importantly, I'd seriously re-evaluate the relationship with this customer. If the customer blatantly chooses to disregard copywritten material, even instructing to do it anyway, something tells me this person wouldn't hesitate to hang you out to dry SHOULD something arise of it.
Run... Run as fast as you can away from this customer!
-KHD
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