As some of you may know, I was one of the many people who had the utmost regard for Grahams wedding work and was very proud to have him as a friend and colleague for many years. For those of who have never come across Grahams work it was innovative, contemporary and very inspiring. Sadly Graham died of cancer last year but his wife, Janet, continues to run the business – The Graham Fenton Experience.
News reached Janet that someone was showing Grahams work and demo and passing it off as their own. So off she went to a wedding show in Scotland where a certain Neil McLean of NM Media of Dundee was happily doing business.
Not only was he showing a continual stream of Grahams work – but it included Graham and Janet’s own wedding vows in there!! Taking the piss or what!!
He had also copied Grahams own distinctive logo (which I remember Graham had taken a great deal of trouble over) and used that too – just took Grahams name out and added his own instead. On the films, on the stationary, on the brochure…… Unbeleivable.
He was of course a little surprised to be confronted by Janet at the show. Janet has sent us his demo and brochure and I’ve just watched it – so, first hand, - it’s all Grahams work and a direct copy of his logo.
Is Janet going to take legal action – Is the pope religious?
But what a pratt. What a sad sad little man.
How the hell did he think he was going to get away with that?
If he is good enough to produce that quality of work he must surely have showreels of his own. If he isn't good enough he is going to have many unhappy customers when the video they get, is not the quality of the demo they have seen.
There can be no excuse for what he has done and I too would take legal action if someone did this to me.
Did this guy ever have any link to Grahams company ie did he operate cameras for them or anything?
No, no links to Graham.
Presumably he though he was tucked up in Scotland and no-one would find out - in the way they would if he was in London for example.
He almost certainly can't reproduce the style or quality (paticularly if his brochure is anything to go by)- but too late after the client has booked and paid and her wedding has gone.
Well caught madam! I would love to have seen his face when Janet showed up! Someone should have had a video camera.
I take it the Graham Fenton Experience's clients would be in line to sue as well, seeing as he didn't have permission or a contract to show footage from their weddings either.
Hopefully, the publicity will lead to many cancelled wedding videos for the guy as well.
That is worse than a petty purse snatcher. He obviously has no respect for the man's work - or his wife's memory.
I hope he get's everything that's coming to him.
Cruel and uncaring but;
Do not let Janet put her faith in the law pursuing this one (and waste a lot of money).
She caught him, faced him down (brave woman), and made sure he doesn't do it again.
He's probably not worth a lot and legal action these days is ridden with stealth taxes and pre-fixed costs. The case will be weighed up by assistant prosecutors witn a raptors eye for cost.
Take the emotion out of it and you will see what I mean.
The greatest satisfaction must have been confronting the rotten little git!
Surely the DTI can take action here as he is using misrepresentation and misleading his customers. Might be a good idea to have words with Inland revenue too because if he is not bona - fide in the first place chances are he is fiddling Her Majesty big time
Trading standards would be a good place to start and that wouldn't cost her a penny.
She might also like to consider a small claims court action. It's about £50, and you can add the cost of that to your claim. I'd check with CAB.
We have all sorts on this BB, but thter's never a lawyer when you want one.
Originally posted by The-Video-Company.co.uk:
He obviously has no respect for the man's work
On the contrary, I would suspect he holds Grahams work in the utmost respect and his own in very low esteem.
Hi,
I’m also disappointed with what I’ve read in this thread.
I’m no lawyer, but there could be an issue here with English and Scottish law/courts etc, which could mean the case going to court in Scotland and being tried under Scottish Law.
Jim Bird
Originally posted by red:"Do not let Janet put her faith in the law pursuing this one (and waste a lot of money).
She caught him, faced him down (brave woman), and made sure he doesn't do it again."I doubt very much if this confrontation will deter him from stealing Janets or anyone else's ideas. Anyone this underhand will probably have turned the demo back on once Janet had gone.
I'm sure Janet and her colleagues have more than enough knowledge to pursue an action without breaking the bank.
There was a similar case in Bradford a few years ago which recieved mega publicity in the local press, which on its own caused the plagiarizer a lousy reputation, and the final insult of a large fine.
Fair point Sifi, but I was talking in a more metaphorical sense. I never had the honour of meeting Graham, but to pass the work of a deceased man off as your own is disrepectful.
Perhaps Janet could get in touch with the local press in Dundee. It wouldn't surprise me if they latched on to this story. This would shame Mr McLean within his social circles, and hopefully hurt him in the pocket.
Perhaps this could also be seen as theft of intellectual property, but I'm not sure on that one.
Originally posted by The-Video-Company.co.uk:
to pass the work of a deceased man off as your own is disrepectful.
Absolutely agree with you on that point.
I too would try and get his local press office involved. The people who have booked him have the right to know he hasn't and more than likely cannot produce work of Grahams quality.
I'm disappointed too.
I was prompted to make my post fom experience not hearsay. There is without doubt a case to be heard but I for one would not trust the courts to deal with it properly. I would also keep a wary eye on costs as the process goes forward.
Name and shame in the paper is a good idea, then go legal if determined.
Red : tell me to mind my own business if you wish, but were you trying to resolve a similar problem? :confused:
Just joined dv doctor and am amazed at the response to my problem! Thank you so much for your comments and support.Everything that has been said has been discussed at my end and I will update you all as and when the matter has been resolved to my satisfaction.
I'm taking it the above post is from Janet?
I have to say publicity would be my weapon of choice. The local papers will have a field day with him! That will naturally lead on to trading standards etc.... I just feel sorry for the poor sods who think they're getting something they're clearly not.
Most of those who post on this forum are usualy passionate about wedding videos and have been inspired directly or indirectly by the ground breaking work of Graham and his team - I am without shame 'Standing on the shoulders of Giants' ;)
Not the same as this Branny but a few with just as much emotion involved plus industrial injuries, tribunals and a rather nasty car crash.
One thing I have noticed, if Mr McLean and people like him decide to defend themselves the court can make extraordinary decisions, the wrong way!
Of course they may get it right and we all know the bastard deserves to be dragged through backwards.
My advice, take proper legal counsel and don't let your heart rule your head.
Janet, I notice your listed as an I.O.V. member.
They offer a free abritration service and may be able to give you more detail on Mr McLean.
Good Luck, you're a very brave lady,
Red
I thing this guy needs the ultimate sanction - court - it may stop others.
I think everything has been said above.
Jim P
I knew Graham for several years and attended his wedding to Janet and his untimely funeral.
I have been interested in all the advice above, some of which tends to favour court action. Unfortunately this could open up a very large can of worms.
What we are all saying is that this Plonker had no right to use any of Graham's material, whether it be logos, wedding demo tapes, or letter heading because they were all copyrighted to The Graham Fenton Experience. I have no issue with this at all.
If this matter did go to court and I was the defence solicitor, the first thing I would ask is to see the copyright licences for the music used in the videos. I am afraid that some of us do use copyrighted music in videos and don't obtain the necessary licences.
I have the greatest respect for The Graham Fenton Experience and the contribution Graham (and now Janet) has made to the wedding video industry. My own personal opinion would be to go to the local press and expose this Cretin for what he is, so all his customers (and prospective customers) know exactly what they are dealing with, but as regards court, think very carefully.
I'd be very interested in attending the next wedding fayre this person is exhibiting at to see what he shows.
PP
Seeing as we haven't heard from the copycat Neil McLean of NM Media of Dundee. I'm hoping Janet will keep us updated on the outcome.
Re: The defence solicitor asking for copyright licences. I'd have thought this topic would be well down the list of counter accusations. Any professional videomaker would have needed to produce the correct copyright licences before being allowed to play these tracks at the major wedding fairs, something I'm sure the G.F.E would already have had, on at least the one exhibition the demo was originally made for.
how can people like this get away with it graham
was a very kind person how helped out everybody
in the industry i hope janet sues this bloke for everypenny
nigel
Just seen their work on BBC's "Inside Out"
Looked very good.
Shame on the rip off merchants.
In the meantime, the IOV have suspended Mr MsLean's membership. :D
I also saw the BBC prog. Who was the guy now running things there?
I have seen him a few times, Gerry will probably know him.
A quick follow up to Mr McLean's suspension from the IOV. The IOV have also requested to be notified of any other instances of 'scene stealing' from other members work.
Found this on Google:
We believe that you should be able to enjoy watching your event time after time. As such we are proud to announce that for this, and future Championships, we have teamed up with the NM MEDIA GROUP
from this link http://www.scot-cheer.org.uk/DVD%20INTRO.htm
Is it the same dude they're talking about?
when ever you look at the sony dvcam products
video it brings so much good memories to everybodys heart's of the great work that graham
did
I saw one of Graham's videos at a WEVA town meeting last month. It is apparently a classic. It was a concept video where the the bride/groom and everyone at the wedding was dancing and singing. Won all kinds of awards at WEVA. By chance is there a website for Graham and his work where one could view this video and possible others?
Thanks.
2G
I don't think the website is running at the moment. I think there was one where the Groom wanted to be James Bond, with the white tuxedo n all - arrived in a BMW and spent the time up to the bride arriving defusing time bombs, to accompanying dramatic background music. Finished defusing the last one just as the Bridal march cranks up . . . . :D
I run a small video company in Dundee and was also at the wedding exhibition when Janet Fenton arrived and despatched the conman. I was in direct competition with NM Video and was feeling overawed with the excellent quality of "his" work. To see that it was really the work of a renowned award winning videographer gave me some hope with my own local productions and something to aspire to. He has not been seen since that moment........ Nice to meet you Janet
I don't suppose anyone has an update on the outcome so far?
If Janet's taking him through the courts, I guess it could be sometime before we hear the outcome.
Just thought I'd mention that The Graham Fenton Experience sell a great showreel, available to serious video professionals to invest in. If you are a videographer this is, in my opinion a necessary investment. There is a fantastic range of styles and techniques to learn from and of course enjoy. I can't tell you without going in to my office how to order them so can you paste up a link Janet? Or perhaps a telephone number to order the showreel from?
Maybe that's where this guy got his demo from!
I bet that's it! He probably thought "This looks too hard to create but great for getting customers on the hook". The idea of someone playing someone elses showreel at a wedding fair is so stupid. If it didn't actually happen, and is so serious, it would make a good scene from a comedy show. Having been ripped off myself over the years I realise the upset these things cause as well as the commercial implications.
Good idea Jamie. I would be interested in looking at the different styles on the tape. We are always learning.
I wonder if NM Video stands for "Not My Video" :)
Is there any progress being made on exposing this guy to the general public?
Just to point out the obvious, the post before Gold77`s is over 11 years old :-)
It only seems like yesterday!