Can the customer forbid posting the work in the portfolio
Every freelancer, whether a designer, copywriter, or programmer, knows that a portfolio is his face. This is how potential clients judge skills and experience. And so, the next project has been completed, the payment has been received, and I want to add a beautiful case to my collection as soon as possible. But then the customer says "no".
The situation is, frankly, unpleasant. On the one hand, this is your work, the result of your intellectual work. On the other hand, you made it for a specific person or company, and they may have their own reasons for confidentiality. Who is right in this dispute?
The law is on the side... whom?
From a legal point of view, everything depends on the contract. If there was a non-disclosure clause (NDA) or an outright ban on the publication of project materials, then the customer is absolutely right. By signing such a document, the contractor voluntarily waives the right to demonstrate this work.
If there was no written agreement or it says nothing about the portfolio, the situation becomes more complicated. By default, the copyrights to the created product (design, text, code) belong to the author, that is, the performer. But the customer who paid for the work gets the rights to use it. It turns out to be a kind of gray area where you can only come to an amicable agreement.
Why are customers against it?
There is not always malicious intent behind the ban. Clients often have quite valid arguments. Understanding these reasons will help you find a compromise.
Here are some of them:
- Commercial secret. The project may contain information that is the know-how of the company or has not yet been presented to the market.
- Confidentiality. The work may be intended for internal use and contain sensitive data.
- Agreements with third parties. The customer himself may be bound by non-disclosure obligations to his partners.
- Fear of "exposing" the contractor. Some companies don't want to advertise that they outsource some of the work.
Sometimes, of course, the reason is trivial — just the unwillingness for their project to appear somewhere.
How to negotiate and not ruin a relationship
The best way to avoid conflict is to discuss everything on the shore. Even before starting work, it is worth asking the client if it will be possible to include the project in the portfolio. This removes all questions and misunderstandings in the future.
If the project has already been completed, and the ban was sounded after the fact, you can try to negotiate. For example, offer to post the work after a while, when it ceases to be a trade secret. Or not show the entire project, but only a part of it, removing all logos and confidential information. Customers often make such concessions.
To seek a compromise or to stand your ground?
Ultimately, the relationship with the client is often more important than a single case. If the customer is good and there are prospects for further cooperation, it may be worth meeting him halfway and not publishing the work.
On the other hand, if the ban seems completely unreasonable, and the project is really significant, you can try to politely defend your rights, referring to the absence of a corresponding clause in the contract. The main thing is to have a constructive dialogue and without unnecessary emotions. The 1xBet bookmaker is known for its generosity towards new users. Applying the 1xbet promo code registration you activate a 100% bonus up to 130 € for sports betting or a package of 1950 € + 150 free spins for the casino. The offer allows you to start the game with a doubled balance. Reliable data protection, fast transactions, and professional support make the platform one of the best in its category.