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So, June and I ran into a Starbucks “Corporate Policy” today.

It’s called the “we don’t allow photography in our stores policy.” As a one-time employee of the company, I had never heard of any such policy. I’m sure that people took pictures at the store that I worked at, and I never had to scold them–nor was I instructed to do so.

However, this morning in the exact same spot in which I sit for this post, we were informed that June must not utilize her shiny new camera because Starbucks Corporate Policy forbids such things. So, I was prompted to scour the web for any such evidence of a policy.

I found a few things related to unhappy would-be customers faced with similar rude (perhaps well-meaning) employees spouting off a policy of which existence no one seems to be confident. Prof. Lessig has a brief post and Brand Autopsy has a more recent account and also details a similar Whole Foods Policy.

I’m all about corporations being free to set policy, even if I find it to be arbitrary and capricious. My invisible hand will either be glad to discretely make snapshots if I want to enjoy coffee, or else brazenly display my camera. This “policy” is just dumb. The arguments to prevent competitors, to prevent criminal activity, or even concerns about publishing just don’t line up. Most people taking in-store snapshots are utilizing their cameras for the same reason almost everyone has one, which is to memorialize an experience whether good or bad. 99 percent of that is going to be noncommercial use, and the commercial use can be prevented via other means instead of insulting and embarrassing customers. 

One thing that isn’t even being said is the concern for privacy of the corporation’s other customers. This I find persuasive, but the policy can be more finely-tailored to kindly directing customers to only take pictures of themselves and their confidants and inanimate objects. Employees may be photographed at their discretion, and so may other customers likewise give consent to be photographed. This sounds like common courtesy to me wrapped up into a nice batch of policy.

So, Starbucks, with this I respectfully dissent.

Also, the irony is just too much. There is a project (RED) sign that invites one to snap a photo in front of it. It’s on display in most Starbucks locations as it has been since around Thanksgiving. I guess that policy already has an “exception” carved out of it for a massive PR campaign. 

Oh, and I’ll let you guess where those pictures were taken.