In class, we talked briefly about the idea of personal image ownership.
Here's my story:
It started when CUA re-vamped its website. I started getting texts from random friends saying, "Hey, you're on the website." I just ignored it. Then my roommates started getting texts of similar nature. Thinking I'd be in a random corner somewhere on the page, I checked it out. Oh, sure, there's my big old egg head.. the first thing you see. Cool. I don't usually go to the homepage, so I figured it wouldn't be a big deal.
Apparently, a lot more people go to the homepage than I thought. I've gotten random double takes from strangers in the library. I've gotten emails from my guidance counselor from high school. Facebook messages from old friends who have siblings looking at the school and prospective law school students that I used to work with. Customers at McFadden's who are alumni asking me questions about it while I'm bartending. Stupid picture!
The conversations usually go the same way:
"Did you know they were going to do that?"
No.
"Did they pay you to do it?"
Nope.
"Well, at least it's a nice picture."
Not one of my finest.
While I am honored that they chose my likeness, the first question strikes up this point: I didn't know that they were going to use my picture -- but it's my FACE. I didn't get any question of approval or a warning or just a casual head's up (mind the pun) about it being published that way. The same picture has been on several brochures and mailings. So... does the school own the rights to my face?
