KEY POINTS:
An Auckland photo lab technician has been caught trying to flog a customer's photographs as "original art" on the internet.
The technician, Todd Mosen of nationwide chain Photo Warehouse, is now facing the sack for his less than picture-perfect behaviour - with his boss conceding the practice was
"unbelievable", "devastating", "indefensible" and a "massive breach of trust and confidentiality".
Mosen's conduct came to light after professional US photographer Bernard Billedo dropped a roll of film containing scenic New Zealand images into the Wellington branch of Photo Warehouse for processing - and then, to his amazement, days later found the images for sale on popular auction website TradeMe.
An investigation by Photo Warehouse co-owner Stephen Edwards revealed that Billedo's film, which had been sent to the company's Great North Rd branch for processing, had been handled by Mosen. After processing, Mosen took copies of the images to his North Shore home, digitally enhanced them and then listed them for sale as original art on TradeMe with a starting bid of $30.
"I just liked them, they stood out," Mosen, 26, explained to the Herald on Sunday last week.
But Billedo was shocked and angry: "I was really appalled by this theft because I've entrusted my rolls of film to a professional lab and this is what I got in return."
Photo Warehouse was also unimpressed with Mosen's actions and the embarrassing publicity that followed.
"This staff member has breached all company policy in respect to dealing with client images. We are devastated that one of our staff has done this," Edwards said, confirming Mosen was now the subject of a disciplinary process which could, eventually, end in his dismissal.
The images - captured in the South Island - have since been removed from TradeMe and a financial settlement of $600 was reached between Photo Warehouse and Billedo.
When confronted about why he had tried to sell Billedo's photographs, Mosen said he "wasn't sure".
"I don't really have a reason why I did it. I can't remember what was running through my head. It was a stupid mistake."
However, he was aware his actions could cost him his job. "It definitely should lead to something."
TradeMe said the illegal or improper trading of anything on its site was frowned upon.
"It is a really dopey place to sell things like this. We keep an archive of everything bought and sold," the company's business manager Mike O'Donnell said.
"Any suggestion that he was selling things he didn't own, then he is gone."
Canterbury University associate law professor Jeremy Finn, an intellectual property expert, said the actions of the Photo Warehouse employee had the potential to initiate a string of legal proceedings.
He believed Mosen's actions might not only be a breach of copyright, but also a breach of the Crimes Act.
The Advertising and Illustrative Photographers Association has also condemned Mosen's behaviour, saying it did not expect this type of problem with a reputable company.