Is it legal for a hotel to modify Yellow Pages directories available to their guests?

Question

Is it legal for the management of a hotel to remove an entire section of advertising from each and every Yellow Pages directory placed in their guest rooms simply because the management of the hotel does not like the (totally legal) service being advertiseed?

In this case, it's the Escort Services ads that they've removed, but it might just as well be tattoo parlours, abortion services, divorce lawyers, gun dealers, mosques -- can the management of a hotel that accepts and makes available Yellow Pages directories modify them before making them available to their guests? And if so, do they have an obligation to inform their guests of this prior to or at the time of booking?

Answer 1

Yes it is legal. The hotel management could just not put the directory in the room, if they so choose.

Answer 2

Are you sure that is true in every room?

Sorry to say, but on trips I have been known to tear out yellow page sections for the type of business I have been interested in.

A recent example:

Somewhere in LA's Little Tokyo section there is a room which is missing the pages for Japanese restaurants.

In the past, especially before the internet made searching easier, I would tear out the pages of translators in whatever city I was in, for professional networking purposes.

Blame it on me, not the hotel, if you find these books.

I can easily imagine the same thing happening with escort services. In fact, I believe it could be so common I might want to start looking wherever I go just for kicks. Too bad I just came back form a trip last night!

Still, if there is a political statement being made by the hotel (I can believe it happens) you might want to follow-up with the corporate headquarters of whatever franchise it is.

If it is an independent place, then consider it "quaint" and part of the charm of the place.

If that still isn't enough, there are zillions of hotel web sites where you can expose the policy in a review.

Edit:

The copyright claim above is nonsense. Yes, it is a derivative work, but they are not profiting form it. it is Fair Use under the principle (I forget the name right now) where you can do whatever you want with your own copy (including selling it).

Answer 3

Okay, it's copyright infringement and it's a civil matter. You should inform the yellow pages company and the escort services who advertise in them. They can sue the hotel in civil court for copyright infringement.

It is not legal. The hotel is, in effect, producing a modified version of a copyrighted work without the consent of the author(s). The reputation of the author(s) is being undermined since the advertisers purchased space in the book under the assumption that whoever purchased the book would have access to their ads.

Answer 4

I make it a point to never shop or do business with stores or companies that push their religion or morals onto it's customers. The "sign of a fish" is an instant elimination factor for me.

I suggest that you spread the word about them, including listing their name HERE. I, for one, will not use their services.

As far as whether it's legal or not.....I would guess that there is nothing actually illegal about it, but it's certainly ethically wrong, and that's what we should all be more concerned with.

Answer 5

It isn't legal. The yellow pages is copyrighted material and the property of the publisher. You could nevertheless call every person within the cell publication and ask them if they wish to be listed in yours.

Answer 6

They don't have to provide ANY Yellow Pages at all, so...

Answer 7

yes it is legal. they own the book, its not federal property. phone service is not mandatory.