We ask that you review the Terms and Conditions of the PhotoStamps
service at the following link:

http://photo.stamps.com/conditions/

Please feel welcome to make full use of our service again in order to create and customize postage that truly meets your personal and
business needs. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience.

Regards,

The PhotoStamps Team

———————————

[submitted via online web form]

Hello PhotoStamps staff —

Yesterday I placed an order for a set of 20 PhotoStamps (order number 21769). The image I supplied was a cartoon graphic from James Barnett, a San Francisco artist who is a friend of mine, and who gave me permission to use the image on a stamp. In fact, he was extremely excited that I was using some of his art on your service!

The cartoon graphic was of an orange squid. You can view it if you look inside my PhotoStamps account.

Today, however, I received a note from you saying that “after careful review, we have determined that your order does not meet the strict standards of content to which PhotoStamps adhere,” and that you would be unable to process my order. You suggested I examine PhotoStamps’ Terms and Conditions.

I carefully read over your Terms and Conditions, and I’m confused as to what particular proviso my order violated. The squid cartoon that I provided you with does not violate any copyright — in fact, I expressly received permission from the artist himself! The image also does not appear to emulate any valid indica or payment for postage. It does not harm minors in any way. The image certainly is not likely to cause harm to PhotoStamps’ computer systems, or anyone else’s. And I don’t think a cartoon of a squid is “obscene, offensive, blasphemous, pornographic, unlawful, deceptive, threatening, menacing, abusive, harmful, an invasion of privacy or publicity rights, supportive of unlawful action, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, illegal or otherwise objectionable”.

I would really like to get a set of stamps made using your innovative service, showcasing my friend’s excellent artwork. (I have a copy of his painting hanging on my wall, actually.) Could you please clarify which of your Terms and Conditions my stamp did not satisfy?

You can reach me at my email above, or any of my numbers listed below. Thanks very much for your time, and for creating a really innovative service,

Clive Thompson
clive@clivethompson.net

———————————

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 15:07:01 -0700
From: PhotoPostage2 <Photo@Stamps.com>
To: Clive Thompson <clive@clivethompson.net>
Subject: Re: [web form 2345678] Clive Thompson KMM3238788V80149L0KM)

Hello Clive,

Thank you for contacting Stamps.com.

Thank you for your order. Unfortunately, as we stated in our previous e-mail, we were unable to accept the image you have submitted.

Once again, we apologize for this situation. Obviously, for you to have taken the time to create PhotoStamps, you must feel passionately about the subject of the photo you wished to feature.

Unfortunately, because PhotoStamps are real postage, they are held to a very high set of standards that includes rules regarding images of political, sexual, religious nature, as well as similar subject matter (as well as copyrighted material) deemed to be inappropriate per our content guidelines. These were the guidelines we asked you to agree to before placing your order.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and hope you will come back to PhotoStamps soon and place another order. Please rest assured that your credit card will not be charged for this order.

We are always interested in your questions and what you have to say. Always feel free to write us with any other suggestions or comments. You may visit our Terms & Conditions at http://photo.stamps.com/conditions/

Respectfully,

Kristen
Customer Care Specialist
The PhotoStamps Team

———————————

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 19:09:48 -0400 (EDT)
From: Clive Thompson <clive@clivethompson.net>
To: PhotoPostage2 <Photo@Stamps.com>
Subject: Re: [web form 2345678] Clive Thompson KMM3238788V80149L0KM)

Hi Kristen —

Thank you very much for your prompt reply! I certainly understand that it’s your prerogative to vet — and reject — any images submitted to PhotoStamps. As you quite rightly point out, is is indeed real postage, so I understand that the images are held to high standards.

I merely wanted to understand the precise reason why the image I submitted — a cartoon image of an orange squid — did not adhere to your Terms and Conditions. I’d like to be sure I understand your reasons, partly because I want to make sure that any future images I submit are more suitable! But your email didn’t clarify precisely what aspect of the squid image was unsuitable.

Would you be able to be a bit more specific? If you need to review my image, feel free to check inside my account.

Thanks again for your help and for taking the time to reply!

Sincerely,

Clive Thompson
clive@clivethompson.net

———————————

Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 10:43:32 -0700
From: PhotoPostage2 <Photo@Stamps.com>
To: Clive Thompson <clive@clivethompson.net>
Subject: Re: [web form 2345678] Clive Thompson (KMM3240196V50913L0KM)

Unfortunately, we cannot offer any additional feedback on your specific images submitted as orders for PhotoStamps. As mentioned in our previous email, since these images will be used as real postage, we have very strict limitations on what we can allow. There is a broad definition for what is unacceptable content, and this includes images that contain political, religious, sexual, controversial, or any other subject matter deemed inappropriate during our approvals process.

Please note that Section 3 of our Terms and Conditions explains further that images must follow under these guidelines in order to be accepted. You may revisit the Terms at the following link:

http://photo.stamps.com/conditions/

We again would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and hope you will come back to PhotoStamps soon and place another order.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us again.

Respectfully,

Mark
Customer Care Specialist
PhotoStamps Postage Services

(Thanks to Maura for the Smoking Gun link!)