Client details on website...

[salazie]

Hi all, I'm revamping my company website to make it look a little less like a 5 year old designed it and wondered what everyone thought about putting details of previous client on there? Thinking of 2 things - putting a simple list of past clients, and possibly putting a page or so on what kind of work I did at some of the bigger ones.

Do you think both of these are ok? Should I get permission before doing something like this? I obviously wouldn't go into huge detail, just general I did this, worked with these technologies etc.

Ta!

[HairyArsedBloke]

I thought about doing that as well a year or so ago. I talked to someone about the idea and was told that it was a pain. Names are OK, maybe a link, but it becomes a minefield after that. Even using a logo in the link can get you into trouble as they client could say that you are abusing their copyright and trying to imply that they endorse your site/company. Writing anything about what you did for them would raise all sorts of confidentiality issues. The short answer: not worth the hassle, just list names.

[Advocate]

I thought about doing that as well a year or so ago. I talked to someone about the idea and was told that it was a pain. Names are OK, maybe a link, but it becomes a minefield after that. Even using a logo in the link can get you into trouble as they client could say that you are abusing their copyright and trying to imply that they endorse your site/company. Writing anything about what you did for them would raise all sorts of confidentiality issues. The short answer: not worth the hassle, just list names.

Surely the logo thing would meet "fair use" type stuff?

/IANAL

[salazie]

... trying to imply that they endorse your site/company...

That's a really good point, I hadn't thought of that. A list it is then, cheers.

[Spacecadet]

surely you could get back in touch with your old clients, ask them for a quote/reference/recommendation for your publicity.
If they agree to that, then find out about links and logo's

[HairyArsedBloke]

I asked about getting permission too. The response was that smaller clients would possibly agree, but who would be impressed with them. The bigger clients are what you want and they are less likely to agree. You can try, but don’t have any expectations of success.

[xoggoth]

I once used pictures and stuff of something I once did, I just asked, why would it be a problem? It's all in The Gaurdian now, sneer sneer.

[Moscow Mule]

Surely the logo thing would meet "fair use" type stuff?

/IANAL

AIUI there's no such thing as fair use in British copyright law.

[Advocate]

AIUI there's no such thing as fair use in British copyright law.

Ah ok, sounds about right....lol

[thunderlizard]

AIUI there's no such thing as fair use in British copyright law.

in effect there is - e.g. you're allowed to quote bits from books in newspaper articles and stuff like that. But if you're company X, using company Y's logo to help promote your own services certainly wouldn't be covered by that.

I would agree that names are OK, and very brief descriptions that tell the incontrovertible truth and don't give away any secrets.