Freelancers claiming credit for subcontracted work?

Join in the lively discussion over at the CFC LinkedIn Group started by Tammy Weidenbach at Tammy Miller Design. Tammy asks:

"I hired a freelancer to develop some design concepts for my client. This freelancer posted the work on his website, as his clients. Do I ask him to take it off or rewrite the project description?"

What would you do? Post your comment here or on the LinkedIn Group.

Comments

[Amber Weinberg]

It won't let me access the Linkedin link bc I'm not the member of the group so I'll post here:

It's normal for subcontractors to use the items they worked on in their portfolio, as long as they clearly clam and state what they did on the project. ALL of my clients are agencies who send me overflow work etc, if I didn't put that in my portfolio, I would have no portfolio. Unless a client specifically asks me at the beginning of the project, and has me put it in my contract, it goes into my portfolio.

[Amber Weinberg]

Edit: I didn't read that they post your clients as their clients. I always put the work as: website.com done under "such and such creative", or I don't mention the client at all, just "html for website.com"

[Renee Blair]

I don't think it's necessarily wrong for the designer to post work that he/she did, however, out of a professional courtesy, I feel he/she should have asked your permission first. When I'm hired as a subcontractor, I get permission from my client before posting the work on my site. I then post MY client as the client, and the project/company name that the work was done for, underneath. For example, if you hired me, I would label it as "Logo Design, Client: Tammy Miller Design, for Company Name."

[Patrick O'Rourke]

Everything in business begins with the initial agreement between the parties. A written (email correspondence) letter of agreement (contract) should specifically set forth the duties and responsibilities of each party, as well as who gets what credit.

[TurtleBlueBird]

I also couldn't access the Linked-In group.

If the freelancer posted the work as his client, as described, that's not quite right.

BUT how many people have done some minor work for Microsoft or other well-known company and listed that as a "client" forevermore.

How would rewriting the project description matter? That wasn't clear to me.

This probably should be agreed to up front - maybe the freelancer can use it but not on their web site? That's how I handle it with sub-contractors. I don't need my clients finding them on the Internet.

[Luis Maimoni]

Like others, I couldn't access the LinkedIn group.

But, I say share the love (assuming, of course, that the subcontractor does a professional job of presenting the work).

I hire subcontractors because they do something better and more cost-effectively than I do. They know I do my thing more better and cost-effectively than they do.

You never know how a subcontractor's success will come back to you.

But, if you think it's going to be negative, mebbe you need to hire a different subcontractor.

Just sayin'.

[Custom Logo Design]

that's the client's wish that where he wants to go.