Jeff,
Yea, sounds like a pain. We've been through this before with several high profile projects in the Bay Area. Luckily, we have a lawyer on staff and have gone through the waiver process in order to obtain marketing approval. It might be possible to obtain a waiver that blankets the future use of a set of photos etc. This is obviously dependent on how rigorous their process is. It's always a bummer to receive a nasty letter like that I and I wish you the best. -August Luminalt Energy Corporation *From:* re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Jeff Yago *Sent:* Sunday, June 10, 2012 7:30 PM *To:* al...@positiveenergysolar.com; 'RE-wrenches' *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar sub-contractors barred from project publication Here is one for the stupid large company file. During the past 3 years we provided all of the solar design, installation management, and equipment selection for a very large corporation you would all know that was awarded multiple solar contracts from state agencies but had to farm out all of the actual solar design and installation to us as they did not have in house people with this experience. Since the projects are now complete and the state agency clients are pleased, we proceeded to post a really nice photo of each project with a brief description that credited this firm as the primary contract firm along with credits to the installation firm we used. Today I received a nasty-gram from this firm stating not only do they demand that I remove all reference to these projects from our web site, but I am not allowed to even mention their name or that my firm had any involvement with these projects. Of course they also mention sub-section whatever, from paragraph whatever on page whatever in the 100 page contract I signed several years ago, but clearly I am sure this was intended to protect them from somebody trashing one of the projects, not to kill off free publicity. Of course they also mention that I can go through a lengthy process to beg for some kind of waiver, but this would mean every time I use my own photos of these projects I would need to get their written approval and review. What really stinks is this was our major solar work for the past few years which means I cannot tell any potential clients about these large projects we completed. What really gripes me, is all these projects were funded with Federal grant money which was intended to promote solar in each state and help advertise success stories so the public will see solar as more mainstream. What a crock! All these Federal funds for solar projects went to huge firms with no solar experience, who in turn sub-contracted all the solar design and installation work to wrenches, then they threaten your first born if you make any attempt to promote these projects or even mention that you had any involvement. Again, I am barred from making public who this firm is, but I can say they are foreign owned, are big in manufacturing all kinds of electrical equipment, and may have actually bought a US solar module manufacturer and re-branded with their name until selling out later. What happened to common sense? Jeff Yago DTI Solar Inc. Virginia
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