Using Other's Work as Your Own or Taking Credit Where None is Due

This seems to be a timely topic and one that hit home here at Cleaned by Pete. I have heard more and more contractors say their hard work is being stolen. As total web sites are being copied or just pieces and part are "lifted". Logos are being used without permission. Internet content stealing seems to be on the rise. It is not OK to "lift" parts of someones web sight just because you lack the skills or the will to do it on your own. Well that also seems to be a big game for some in our industry too. Some want to be power washers find it easier to take and use the hard work, internet content, photos, even reputations, and in my case even reenacting a cleaning I did, for their own gain and to build a web sight.

Why is it some companies feel they can take and use work not done by them on their web pages. For every industry there are "stock photos" for use in advertising and to enhance a web sight or page. Does that mean you can use anything you want? For some companies it seems it does. I finished a job and after I loaded up an other local company came by and took pictures of the work they then lead people to believe they had done that work. It's OK with them they are still using it to this day. If you use a stock photo that is OK if you are going to use an other contractor photo give them due credit or at least get permission. Leading customers to you via content or photos that are not yours is unethical to say the least.

The main reason I bring this up is not to bash the other company, it would seem they have no ethics nor care to change their business practices else they would not be doing this. You just have to have a positive outlook on things and try to let others know what is going on. Sure you can say yes, they are using my photo and try to take legal action but is it worth it? It seems that anything is fair game to use claim or promote in this new age of the internet it does not have to even be their work, photo, or job it OK with some to take, take, and take never looking back as long as they can justify it in their own narrow mind. Love hearing the excuse well it was on the internet so anyone can use it.

It is only fair to post this up dated information of what happened after the entry below was put on the internet via the "House Washing Springfield MO" blog. Some of the pictures of the work that was done by Cleaned by Pete but claimed to be their work, were quietly removed from parts of their web pages. Even though one still appears in their header slide show. I guess they still have not done any work themselves well enough on their own to fill this slot. Still using another persons work touting it as their own! They removed all the links from the other pictures to their web pages also. leaving no reference to them, but the one of Cleaned by Pete's work on the patio, pool and outside kitchen is still being used in their header slide show. I still find it sad that other companies have to use other's work to promote what they can not do themselves. If a company does claim to do excellent work why not show it off? If you don't show your work but instead use another persons work, what does that say for your company? If you claim to be a power washing company then show your work from jobs you have done. Don't pass off another companies work as yours. Don't you have just one excellent photo of your work? It would appear they don't or they would use it. Customers need to take time to question and ask contractors about needed work please don't just assume they know what they are doing cause they have a photo of work that has been done it may not even be their work as in this case. You can also look at it this way if it was not wrong why then did they remove some of the photos and references to them. What a "hoot" know you're wrong but not admitting it fully by the action you took, removing just part of them. One must keep a positive outlook on things and keep moving forward, even if others take a shadier way in their business practices.

The original entry as posted

You can find just about anything on the internet, even if your not looking for it. Being one of the established and premier power / pressure washer here in the Springfield MO area, we are all about getting our name out when we can. Cleaned by Pete puts up or out pictures of his work. This very blog and its' sister blog you can find pictures and photos of the work that Cleaned by Pete has done. Our facebook page we regularly post picture and photos of our work. Youtube and any of our four web-sites contain pictures of our work. Cleaned by Pete wants to show you what we do and give you an idea of how we can help you with your cleaning needs. Pictures and photos are one of the best way we can convey this information.

Sometimes you can find a picture of your work but it has someone else's name on it. Pictures and inferences are open to interpretation on the web. They can implied they did it, even though they didn't come out and just say they did, some how this is OK with some other business owners. 

If you see work pictures and photos posted here and on any of our other media, it has been done by Cleaned by Pete unless stated. We don't have to barrow work photos from others. We did the work and have pictures of the job. It may seem that some still feel it is OK to let you think that since they have taken a picture and placed it on their web-site even though it is not their work and has been preformed by some other company, it's still OK. They really never said they did the work, they are just using the photo of the work preformed.

 Outdoor kitchen cleaning service Springfield MO

Outdoor entertaining areas, BBQ's and outside kitchen areas, Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO. This is one of our regular customers entertaining ares we clean and maintain for them. If we can help you with your outside kitchens, entertaining areas, patios or pool deck cleaning; call us at 417.459.7869

**This photo was found on an internet look up. It is of work preformed by Cleaned by Pete though the photo was not taken by Cleaned by Pete.

Cleaned by Pete cleaning the out side entertain area and kitchen also cleaning the pool deck and walk-ways.

A Cleaned by Pete photo cleaning the out-door kitchen and area around the pool.

Pool deck and furniture washed and cleaned ready for a new season a Cleaned by Pete photo.

Patio and pool deck cleaning, maintaining and cleaning those out-side: kitchen, BBQ, entertainment, and patio areas, a Cleaned by Pete photo.

The four photos above were taken on the job by Cleaned by Pete You can still see our hi-pressure hoses, spray gun and lance in the photos. Our maintenance package can also include gathering and vacuuming all your cushions cleaning the tables and chairs we can even add a disinfectant to the wash mix. Using a dry industrial steam cleaner to clean and maintain your built-in BBQ. Dry steam is use in hospitals and in food service areas and we can bring it to your home. You can not power wash a "new modern" BBQ with lights, temp sensors, electronic ignitions, and digital read-outs dry steam is the only way to go. We'll stack and vac the cushions and wash down everything when dry we or you as the home owner has the option of putting them back out when needed. Cleaned by Pete works with each home owner to meet the needs that they want or wish. Spring time clean up we will wash and vacuum that green and yellow pollen away. We also remove ash form your fire pits, fire places and wood fired BBQ if needed. Let us build a custom package for you.


Cleaned by Pete

serving the greater Springfield MO area

power, pressure and soft washing

417.459.7869