Moral Dilemma - Advice Please

[PondLife]

I would be grateful for any advice that people have on the following matter, to assist me in making a decision.

I run a website with pictures and videos that are free to download. The material was originally used on a pay site that I ran but is now too old for that purpose. The material was shot by a photographer who I commissioned about seven years ago. The names of the models on the free site are the ones used on the Model Release Forms. There aren't any restrictions as to the use of the pictures or videos and all the models were aware that they were for Internet use.

I have now had an email from the husband of one of the models asking that I remove the videos and calling me "stupid" for using the model's name on the home page.

I fully understand that I am within my rights to keep the site as it is. In fact the photographer told me that at the time of the shoot, the model said that she loved the thought of "all of those men seeing me naked".

I realise that girls do stop modelling and some may regret the things they have done. So, the questions are:

Should I remove the videos and her name?

Should I remove the videos and use a pseudonym instead?

Should I tell her husband to get lost?

What do people think, please?

[Sam Slater]

Just don't use the models real names. Sometimes models can sign their real names in the 'stage name' line by mistake, which can be bad for the model concerned in later years.

If she signed a model release, and got paid, you don't have to do anything.

Just avoid using real names, or stating where they live and meet them halfway.

[Pervert]

If it were me, I'd be inclined to remove the videos and her name---but make her and her husband aware that you are doing this because you have been asked and not because you have to.

The husband's "stupid" comment is a bit off. How are you supposed to know about the changes in models' personal lives? But if you think it would save you some grief in future, it might be best to use pseudonyms.

[PondLife]

Thanks Sam.

I ensured that I used stage names where these were given. There's no way I would have used a real name if a stage name was supplied.

This particular model gave the photographer a name, without making it clear if it was a stage name or not.

Also, I would imagine that now she has married, she would most probably have changed her name in any case, although not all girls do.

Any thoughts from anyone else? If you all agree with Sam, that's fine.

PL

[PondLife]

Thanks Caractacus.

So far I've replied to her husband's email, telling him to apologise for using the word "stupid" and that then we can discuss the matter further.

I think I will eventually remove the videos and her name, once he understands that starting off with an aggressive stance will not work.

[PondLife]

Yes, that's a good point. It might just be him who is complaining due to jealousy and not the model herself.

I've just rung the photographer again and he has told me that she was more than happy to do the work, which was in fact just a fairly soft striptease video. She seemed honestly pleased that her video would be shown around the world and did not wish a stage name to be used at all.

She was a professional model, booked though an agency, so legality is not an issue.

However, I will probably remove the videos and her name, assuming her husband adopts a far more reasonable tone.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. It's really appreciated.

[Mick Handy]

Sorry to go the other way .... if you paid her and all is legal in the documents department then no do not remove them you within your right to do as you wish.

however if the model personally asked you to take them down then i would be inclined to do so .... never on a husbands/partners request.

[PondLife]

Thanks again.

I would happily give the website address but at the moment I am right up against bandwidth limitations and my provider is going to be asking for more money from me if I exceed the monthly limit. It's all due someone posting a link from a forum that takes people to a page on my site with a few videos of a certain Page 3 model who does not usually do nude work.

I am really sorry about this and I will provide the link at some time in the future. I did think that 20Gbit per month would be plenty for now, but it seems the site is more popular than I thought. That's my mistake for giving things away for free, I suppose. I had made enough money when it was in a former reincarnation as a pay site so I thought I would give something back to the community.

Thank you also to Mick. I really think it depends on what the husband says, if indeed he and the model are married. If the model concerned had contacted me by email, it would have been a much easier decision.