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Found my cover letter to a private company online
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up vote
8
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I applied to private company in Switzerland few years ago and I wasn't selected.
No big deal.
Problem is that I recently found my cover letter online at some careers website. This was simply by making a google search of my old company. They just removed the header but left the letter intact, without my name and my signature. They didn't change a single word of anything else.
Are companies allowed to do this? How should I proceed?
interviewing cover-letter legal switzerland
edited Apr 15 '16 at 5:34
gnat
3,25073066
asked Mar 29 '16 at 14:18
UmNyobe
5821515
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
I applied to private company in Switzerland few years ago and I wasn't selected.
No big deal.
Problem is that I recently found my cover letter online at some careers website. This was simply by making a google search of my old company. They just removed the header but left the letter intact, without my name and my signature. They didn't change a single word of anything else.
Are companies allowed to do this? How should I proceed?
interviewing cover-letter legal switzerland
edited Apr 15 '16 at 5:34
gnat
3,25073066
asked Mar 29 '16 at 14:18
UmNyobe
5821515
2
Is is possible to identify you from the content?
– bilbo_pingouin
Mar 29 '16 at 14:28
2
Technically you still own copyright to the letter, but you don't own the letter itself - you could sue them for damages under copyright law, but as you would have to prove damages I wouldn't expect any payout to exceed your costs...
– Moo
Mar 29 '16 at 14:32
1
@bilbo_pingouin my former position as cited in the letter was a startup. If you look it up on linked in, you are going to find me without a sweat.
– UmNyobe
Mar 29 '16 at 14:41
3
have you covered the basics and tried to contact this company? A polite request for a takedown is sometimes met well.
– JJosaur
Mar 29 '16 at 14:52
3
In what context was the letter presented? Mindsumo appears to be a site where companies put up challenges that folks solve for a chance to win prize money and a shot at a job. It seems like there are two possibilities. Either the company you sent the letter to is using it for a challenge, or someone stole your cover letter and is misrepresenting themselves to participate in the challenges. It seems like the first step would be contacting Mindsumo to let them know that there's a problem and see what their response is. For the legal aspects, you might want to try asking at Law
– ColleenV
Mar 29 '16 at 15:37
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
I applied to private company in Switzerland few years ago and I wasn't selected.
No big deal.
Problem is that I recently found my cover letter online at some careers website. This was simply by making a google search of my old company. They just removed the header but left the letter intact, without my name and my signature. They didn't change a single word of anything else.
Are companies allowed to do this? How should I proceed?
interviewing cover-letter legal switzerland
edited Apr 15 '16 at 5:34
gnat
3,25073066
asked Mar 29 '16 at 14:18
UmNyobe
5821515
I applied to private company in Switzerland few years ago and I wasn't selected.
No big deal.
Problem is that I recently found my cover letter online at some careers website. This was simply by making a google search of my old company. They just removed the header but left the letter intact, without my name and my signature. They didn't change a single word of anything else.
Are companies allowed to do this? How should I proceed?
interviewing cover-letter legal switzerland
edited Apr 15 '16 at 5:34
gnat
3,25073066
asked Mar 29 '16 at 14:18
UmNyobe
5821515
edited Apr 15 '16 at 5:34
gnat
3,25073066
edited Apr 15 '16 at 5:34
gnat
3,25073066
edited Apr 15 '16 at 5:34
gnat
3,25073066
3,25073066
asked Mar 29 '16 at 14:18
UmNyobe
5821515
asked Mar 29 '16 at 14:18
UmNyobe
5821515
asked Mar 29 '16 at 14:18
UmNyobe
5821515
5821515
2
Is is possible to identify you from the content?
– bilbo_pingouin
Mar 29 '16 at 14:28
2
Technically you still own copyright to the letter, but you don't own the letter itself - you could sue them for damages under copyright law, but as you would have to prove damages I wouldn't expect any payout to exceed your costs...
– Moo
Mar 29 '16 at 14:32
1
@bilbo_pingouin my former position as cited in the letter was a startup. If you look it up on linked in, you are going to find me without a sweat.
– UmNyobe
Mar 29 '16 at 14:41
3
have you covered the basics and tried to contact this company? A polite request for a takedown is sometimes met well.
– JJosaur
Mar 29 '16 at 14:52
3
In what context was the letter presented? Mindsumo appears to be a site where companies put up challenges that folks solve for a chance to win prize money and a shot at a job. It seems like there are two possibilities. Either the company you sent the letter to is using it for a challenge, or someone stole your cover letter and is misrepresenting themselves to participate in the challenges. It seems like the first step would be contacting Mindsumo to let them know that there's a problem and see what their response is. For the legal aspects, you might want to try asking at Law
– ColleenV
Mar 29 '16 at 15:37
 |Â
show 3 more comments
2
Is is possible to identify you from the content?
– bilbo_pingouin
Mar 29 '16 at 14:28
2
Technically you still own copyright to the letter, but you don't own the letter itself - you could sue them for damages under copyright law, but as you would have to prove damages I wouldn't expect any payout to exceed your costs...
– Moo
Mar 29 '16 at 14:32
1
@bilbo_pingouin my former position as cited in the letter was a startup. If you look it up on linked in, you are going to find me without a sweat.
– UmNyobe
Mar 29 '16 at 14:41
3
have you covered the basics and tried to contact this company? A polite request for a takedown is sometimes met well.
– JJosaur
Mar 29 '16 at 14:52
3
In what context was the letter presented? Mindsumo appears to be a site where companies put up challenges that folks solve for a chance to win prize money and a shot at a job. It seems like there are two possibilities. Either the company you sent the letter to is using it for a challenge, or someone stole your cover letter and is misrepresenting themselves to participate in the challenges. It seems like the first step would be contacting Mindsumo to let them know that there's a problem and see what their response is. For the legal aspects, you might want to try asking at Law
– ColleenV
Mar 29 '16 at 15:37
2
2
Is is possible to identify you from the content?
– bilbo_pingouin
Mar 29 '16 at 14:28
Is is possible to identify you from the content?
– bilbo_pingouin
Mar 29 '16 at 14:28
2
2
Technically you still own copyright to the letter, but you don't own the letter itself - you could sue them for damages under copyright law, but as you would have to prove damages I wouldn't expect any payout to exceed your costs...
– Moo
Mar 29 '16 at 14:32
Technically you still own copyright to the letter, but you don't own the letter itself - you could sue them for damages under copyright law, but as you would have to prove damages I wouldn't expect any payout to exceed your costs...
– Moo
Mar 29 '16 at 14:32
1
1
@bilbo_pingouin my former position as cited in the letter was a startup. If you look it up on linked in, you are going to find me without a sweat.
– UmNyobe
Mar 29 '16 at 14:41
@bilbo_pingouin my former position as cited in the letter was a startup. If you look it up on linked in, you are going to find me without a sweat.
– UmNyobe
Mar 29 '16 at 14:41
3
3
have you covered the basics and tried to contact this company? A polite request for a takedown is sometimes met well.
– JJosaur
Mar 29 '16 at 14:52
have you covered the basics and tried to contact this company? A polite request for a takedown is sometimes met well.
– JJosaur
Mar 29 '16 at 14:52
3
3
In what context was the letter presented? Mindsumo appears to be a site where companies put up challenges that folks solve for a chance to win prize money and a shot at a job. It seems like there are two possibilities. Either the company you sent the letter to is using it for a challenge, or someone stole your cover letter and is misrepresenting themselves to participate in the challenges. It seems like the first step would be contacting Mindsumo to let them know that there's a problem and see what their response is. For the legal aspects, you might want to try asking at Law
– ColleenV
Mar 29 '16 at 15:37
In what context was the letter presented? Mindsumo appears to be a site where companies put up challenges that folks solve for a chance to win prize money and a shot at a job. It seems like there are two possibilities. Either the company you sent the letter to is using it for a challenge, or someone stole your cover letter and is misrepresenting themselves to participate in the challenges. It seems like the first step would be contacting Mindsumo to let them know that there's a problem and see what their response is. For the legal aspects, you might want to try asking at Law
– ColleenV
Mar 29 '16 at 15:37
 |Â
show 3 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
Its obvious that you don't want this letter to be up from your tone and comments.
Before we go into legal hashmash (which is off topic here), lets explore some other options to get what you want (the letter removed).
Your first step would be to contact the company that put the letter up, if you can see who did it. Outline your concerns to them and politely ask them to take it down. If they don't react, or react negatively, you can go on to the second step.
The second step would be to contact the website, with the same polite request to take it down. If the website doesn't react or also reacts negatively, you can contact a lawyer and get legal advice. I strongly advise you that if you want to cite any laws (like mentioning that this is illegal in your correspondence with either website or company) that you get an actual lawyer to look into it first. Try the polite approach first, it very often works with minimal hassle.
answered Mar 30 '16 at 6:24
Magisch
16.5k134776
1
@UmNyobe Polite approach is better. But ,when all sorts of polite approaches fails, as suggested by, you can reach out legally to a lawyer about this. But make sure you have the application and coverletter in your inbox that you posted to that company few years before which will be the only proof to prove that the cover letter content belongs to you.
– Akansha
Mar 30 '16 at 20:57
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I would say that they can do this. If you ask them to remove it however, I would expect them to do everything in their power to take it down. They did at least remove identifying info from the letter, so they are at least being courteous about it.
answered Mar 29 '16 at 23:13
Matthew Fegan
37137
suggest improvements |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
Its obvious that you don't want this letter to be up from your tone and comments.
Before we go into legal hashmash (which is off topic here), lets explore some other options to get what you want (the letter removed).
Your first step would be to contact the company that put the letter up, if you can see who did it. Outline your concerns to them and politely ask them to take it down. If they don't react, or react negatively, you can go on to the second step.
The second step would be to contact the website, with the same polite request to take it down. If the website doesn't react or also reacts negatively, you can contact a lawyer and get legal advice. I strongly advise you that if you want to cite any laws (like mentioning that this is illegal in your correspondence with either website or company) that you get an actual lawyer to look into it first. Try the polite approach first, it very often works with minimal hassle.
answered Mar 30 '16 at 6:24
Magisch
16.5k134776
1
@UmNyobe Polite approach is better. But ,when all sorts of polite approaches fails, as suggested by, you can reach out legally to a lawyer about this. But make sure you have the application and coverletter in your inbox that you posted to that company few years before which will be the only proof to prove that the cover letter content belongs to you.
– Akansha
Mar 30 '16 at 20:57
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
Its obvious that you don't want this letter to be up from your tone and comments.
Before we go into legal hashmash (which is off topic here), lets explore some other options to get what you want (the letter removed).
Your first step would be to contact the company that put the letter up, if you can see who did it. Outline your concerns to them and politely ask them to take it down. If they don't react, or react negatively, you can go on to the second step.
The second step would be to contact the website, with the same polite request to take it down. If the website doesn't react or also reacts negatively, you can contact a lawyer and get legal advice. I strongly advise you that if you want to cite any laws (like mentioning that this is illegal in your correspondence with either website or company) that you get an actual lawyer to look into it first. Try the polite approach first, it very often works with minimal hassle.
answered Mar 30 '16 at 6:24
Magisch
16.5k134776
1
@UmNyobe Polite approach is better. But ,when all sorts of polite approaches fails, as suggested by, you can reach out legally to a lawyer about this. But make sure you have the application and coverletter in your inbox that you posted to that company few years before which will be the only proof to prove that the cover letter content belongs to you.
– Akansha
Mar 30 '16 at 20:57
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
Its obvious that you don't want this letter to be up from your tone and comments.
Before we go into legal hashmash (which is off topic here), lets explore some other options to get what you want (the letter removed).
Your first step would be to contact the company that put the letter up, if you can see who did it. Outline your concerns to them and politely ask them to take it down. If they don't react, or react negatively, you can go on to the second step.
The second step would be to contact the website, with the same polite request to take it down. If the website doesn't react or also reacts negatively, you can contact a lawyer and get legal advice. I strongly advise you that if you want to cite any laws (like mentioning that this is illegal in your correspondence with either website or company) that you get an actual lawyer to look into it first. Try the polite approach first, it very often works with minimal hassle.
answered Mar 30 '16 at 6:24
Magisch
16.5k134776
Its obvious that you don't want this letter to be up from your tone and comments.
Before we go into legal hashmash (which is off topic here), lets explore some other options to get what you want (the letter removed).
Your first step would be to contact the company that put the letter up, if you can see who did it. Outline your concerns to them and politely ask them to take it down. If they don't react, or react negatively, you can go on to the second step.
The second step would be to contact the website, with the same polite request to take it down. If the website doesn't react or also reacts negatively, you can contact a lawyer and get legal advice. I strongly advise you that if you want to cite any laws (like mentioning that this is illegal in your correspondence with either website or company) that you get an actual lawyer to look into it first. Try the polite approach first, it very often works with minimal hassle.
answered Mar 30 '16 at 6:24
Magisch
16.5k134776
answered Mar 30 '16 at 6:24
Magisch
16.5k134776
answered Mar 30 '16 at 6:24
Magisch
16.5k134776
answered Mar 30 '16 at 6:24
Magisch
16.5k134776
16.5k134776
1
@UmNyobe Polite approach is better. But ,when all sorts of polite approaches fails, as suggested by, you can reach out legally to a lawyer about this. But make sure you have the application and coverletter in your inbox that you posted to that company few years before which will be the only proof to prove that the cover letter content belongs to you.
– Akansha
Mar 30 '16 at 20:57
suggest improvements |Â
1
@UmNyobe Polite approach is better. But ,when all sorts of polite approaches fails, as suggested by, you can reach out legally to a lawyer about this. But make sure you have the application and coverletter in your inbox that you posted to that company few years before which will be the only proof to prove that the cover letter content belongs to you.
– Akansha
Mar 30 '16 at 20:57
1
1
@UmNyobe Polite approach is better. But ,when all sorts of polite approaches fails, as suggested by, you can reach out legally to a lawyer about this. But make sure you have the application and coverletter in your inbox that you posted to that company few years before which will be the only proof to prove that the cover letter content belongs to you.
– Akansha
Mar 30 '16 at 20:57
@UmNyobe Polite approach is better. But ,when all sorts of polite approaches fails, as suggested by, you can reach out legally to a lawyer about this. But make sure you have the application and coverletter in your inbox that you posted to that company few years before which will be the only proof to prove that the cover letter content belongs to you.
– Akansha
Mar 30 '16 at 20:57
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I would say that they can do this. If you ask them to remove it however, I would expect them to do everything in their power to take it down. They did at least remove identifying info from the letter, so they are at least being courteous about it.
answered Mar 29 '16 at 23:13
Matthew Fegan
37137
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I would say that they can do this. If you ask them to remove it however, I would expect them to do everything in their power to take it down. They did at least remove identifying info from the letter, so they are at least being courteous about it.
answered Mar 29 '16 at 23:13
Matthew Fegan
37137
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I would say that they can do this. If you ask them to remove it however, I would expect them to do everything in their power to take it down. They did at least remove identifying info from the letter, so they are at least being courteous about it.
answered Mar 29 '16 at 23:13
Matthew Fegan
37137
I would say that they can do this. If you ask them to remove it however, I would expect them to do everything in their power to take it down. They did at least remove identifying info from the letter, so they are at least being courteous about it.
answered Mar 29 '16 at 23:13
Matthew Fegan
37137
answered Mar 29 '16 at 23:13
Matthew Fegan
37137
answered Mar 29 '16 at 23:13
Matthew Fegan
37137
answered Mar 29 '16 at 23:13
Matthew Fegan
37137
37137
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
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2
Is is possible to identify you from the content?
– bilbo_pingouin
Mar 29 '16 at 14:28
2
Technically you still own copyright to the letter, but you don't own the letter itself - you could sue them for damages under copyright law, but as you would have to prove damages I wouldn't expect any payout to exceed your costs...
– Moo
Mar 29 '16 at 14:32
1
@bilbo_pingouin my former position as cited in the letter was a startup. If you look it up on linked in, you are going to find me without a sweat.
– UmNyobe
Mar 29 '16 at 14:41
3
have you covered the basics and tried to contact this company? A polite request for a takedown is sometimes met well.
– JJosaur
Mar 29 '16 at 14:52
3
In what context was the letter presented? Mindsumo appears to be a site where companies put up challenges that folks solve for a chance to win prize money and a shot at a job. It seems like there are two possibilities. Either the company you sent the letter to is using it for a challenge, or someone stole your cover letter and is misrepresenting themselves to participate in the challenges. It seems like the first step would be contacting Mindsumo to let them know that there's a problem and see what their response is. For the legal aspects, you might want to try asking at Law
– ColleenV
Mar 29 '16 at 15:37