Sort of exciting news, but what do you lawyers out there think??

AlisonMT Posted: Oct 01, 2003 10:41 AM

Sort of exciting news, but what do you lawyers out there think??

Ok, so on a whim, I entered DH and I in a contest that Macy's was sponsoring and we were actually selected as one of, I believe, 20 winners nationwide to receive a nice gift certificate and have our photo and wedding story published in their Gift Book for 2004. So we were pretty excited about that. The only question I have is that they want us to sign a consent form that doesn't really give us much protection. I tried renegotiating it with them but they're not budging, though I have received written assurance that they won't use our info beyond 2004 or in any defamatory way (it's just not written into the consent form). DH feels comfortable with that, but I was curious as to what you guys (gals) thought (especially the lawyers out there)...Should we do it??

jannshari Posted: Oct 01, 2003 11:54 AM

Re: Sort of exciting news, but what do you lawyers out there think??

Without knowing the details of the consent form, it's difficult to know whether you're protected or not. I assume that you would be waiving your rights to any claims for them using your likeness and personal information and that they will not remunerate you for any profits they make off of it. Do you have the final say in the story part of it? What specific part of the form are you concerned with?

AlisonMT Posted: Oct 01, 2003 12:28 PM

Re: Sort of exciting news, but what do you lawyers out there think??

It's not really a story, per se, just our photo and a few sentences, which I wrote.

ETA: I posted this to the Newlywed board too and included the text if you want to check it out. http://www.liweddings.com/chat/topic.asp?ID=93909

jannshari Posted: Oct 01, 2003 12:38 PM

Re: Sort of exciting news, but what do you lawyers out there think??

It basically deals with your pictures and the biographical information you give them. If they are using your information, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. The waiver is pretty much standard, but the only way you would have a problem is if they change your info in any way, which I doubt they would. You always have the right to sue them, even though it says that you can't, because if they are not using the information that you gave them, then that info is not covered under the agreement. In other words, the only things that form covers are your pictures and the biographical information YOU provide them. It's really just a formality and you shouldn't worry too much about it. I wouldn't have any problems signing it - there are always ways to deal with these things should the need arise. Loopholes are the reason us lawyers have jobs.