𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲
My intention of this post is not to humiliate, nor degrade anyone. But rather hopefully through this experience of mine, it can help highlight, remind, educate all of us . -#respectimagerights
Two nights ago, I got a dm from one of my Singapore fan asking if they are mis-using my photo. Let me just say that in my 15 years of being in the entertainment line, cases of misusing my picture, or any other celebrity’s picture has been countless. We continue to hope and pray that audience will not fall into trap.
The fan showed me a screenshot of a sponsored ad of a property agency, with my family portrait that I took with a photographer friend. The copy didn’t mention my name, but claim that it was another person. I cleared with my photographer friend, and he said he didn’t allow anyone to use the picture nor sold copyright to anyone, and even encouraged me to pursue legal action.
I immediately took the liberty to email the person, introducing myself with proof, and links to my Youtube Channel and FB page. Told him that I was notified of such case, highlighting the concern that his company that they were using my picture without copyright clearance, impersonating as another person with false information. And my main worry is that, people will fall into this false lie especially when Musang King Channel (our youtube channel) have a big portion of Singaporean fanbase.
And we waited.
The whole of next day, my DM was swarmed with messages from fans asking me about the same thing. But I thought I could give him some time.
When night came, I was informed that he was still running the ad, get this, with multiple version.
I thought it was getting out of hand.
I decided to post story out clarify that we never work with this agency and asked my fans to help remind him to check his email.
You can see part of his response below.
“It is indeed a true story we are using and not any scam, however, our client Shi Xian has yet to send us a picture of his family, so we randomly took a picture off the internet as a temporary picture to launch our campaign during our digital marketing class, we sincerely do not know that the people in the picture that we used are public figures. “
Basically he is saying his story is true, Shi Xian and Cheryl’s story is legit. But the legit couple who enjoyed their service haven’t given him the picture yet. So he “ngam ngam hou” use my picture temporarily because he has to launch his campaign. How he knew I was a public figure.
I got stunned.
The issue is not if I am a public figure or not.
Using someone else’s picture without approval or copyright clearance is not ok.
Regardless if you were caught or not.
Stealing is wrong. Period.
I wish you all the best.
Please know the severity of the issue.
I seriously hope that your company, and others will not repeat this ignorant mistake again.
Big thank you to all the fans, artist friends, media for supporting image rights and caring for my situation.
Hopefully we can use this to remind people around us to avoid scammers and from repeating the same mistake.
决定发这篇文章，目的不在于让谁难堪，更不是为了贬低任何人，而是希望通过我这次亲身经历给大家提醒 - #尊重并提高肖像权保护意识。
前两天收到新加坡粉丝的私讯，告知在一个新加坡房地产经纪公司的 FB Page 看到对方盗用了我的照片做广告，并发来了截图。
这篇广告盗用了一位摄影师好友为我们一家三口拍的家庭照 ，广告文案未提及我的名字，反而套上了另一个主人翁的故事做营销。
和摄影师好友确认过并无授权给对方使用照片后，我采取主动Email对方，附上我的身份证明并强调未经同意，盗窃别人肖像和身份进行商业用途是欺骗消费者的行为，广告文案也涉及误导性信息。
在等待的同时，广告依然进行中且已经引起更多新加坡粉丝的回应。于是我呼吁粉丝一起留言，让对方尽快查收我的Email。终于等到对方来信，部分回应如下：
“我们所提到的文案是真实服务过的客户案例，并不算诈骗，只是客户没来得及附上一家人的照片，我们就从网上随机下载了照片暂时使用应付广告上线，我们真的不知道抓到的照片这么巧是公众人物。”
我当下傻眼了！踩到我底线的是，除了盗用我和家人的照片作为商业用途外，难道不是公众人物的照片就能随便使用吗？盗窃他人肖像就是不OK！
虽然对方已经道歉和下架广告，还是希望通过我的这次经历，提醒大众：
（1） 无论你盗用的照片是艺人还是素人，盗用照片就已经是不对的事情 ，这侵犯到肖像权，属于违法行为
（2） 由于是公众人物的身份，大家看到广告后或许会更相信广告所讲的都是真的 ，相当于利用艺人背书 ，会让消费者更容易掉入商业圈套。网路行销当中有太多太多盗用照片或身份的诈骗案，大家一定要很小心、注意！做个精明消费者！
在此，谢谢帮我去发声还有给予意见的粉丝、朋友和艺人朋友。
希望大家互相提醒身边的人以免受骗或犯下同样的错误
