Obama "Hope" artist - copyright infringement

[Dre Okorley]

"Designed by Shepard Fairey, a Los-Angeles based street artist, the image has led to sales of hundreds of thousands of posters and stickers, has become so much in demand that copies signed by Fairey have been purchased for thousands of dollars on eBay. The image, Fairey has acknowledged, is based on an Associated Press photograph, taken in April 2006 by Manny Garcia on assignment for the AP at the National Press Club in Washington.

The AP says it owns the copyright, and wants credit and compensation. Fairey disagrees."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090204/ap_en_ot/obama_poster

[swirlofhues]

people are so damn greedy.

[Tristan Needler]

Pretty ridiculous in my opinion. AP is probably legally right, but it's crazy of them to go after this guy.

[TheHoldSteady]

It's an amazing poster though.

[gillygtv]

any photographer who has had their work stolen via interwebz would understand...but i'd care more if the rights belonged to the photog and he hadn't been shooting for ap

[narcoleptic953]

Well, if AP gets anything, Obama should demand money from them because they took a picture of him. What a fucking joke.

[andrew4045]

ridiculous

[terrycw89]

:hitself:

[roxy]

My company is sponsoring Sherpard Fairey's exhibit at the ICA. He postered the garage to our building. It came out awesome. Sucks that this story is just coming out now when he is getting a lot of positive feedback on his other work.

[Mark is God]

Well, if AP gets anything, Obama should demand money from them because they took a picture of him. What a fucking joke.
:hitself:

[rosieh93]

i was a really big fan of this guy before that poster even came out. i hope it all turns out all right, and i bet it will.

[GuitarR0cker1]

This is ridiculous.

[Chromefox]

This is why I don't pursue artwork for a living. I wouldn't be anywhere without reference photos.

[guitarliketom]

isnt this what a portion of graphic design is?

manipulation of an existing image?

[12:46AM]

OBEY

[J.C.]

I hadn't even seen the original picture until I clicked the link.

[wroteurname]

I hadn't even seen the original picture until I clicked the link.
Same here, this story is ridiculous.

[EyesOfMadness]

I made some shirts for a dude who designed a shirt based on that image. That's like triple copyright infringement!!!!

[wuduprod]

sheppard fairey is a sellout.

[Trainsaw]

i was lucky enough to nab the VOTE print Fairey had, signed and #'d, i've yet to frame it tho

[steviestare]

Pretty sure AP won't win. He seems to have altered the image enough to avoid copyright infringement. I would be amazed if he lost.

[swt_catastrophe]

This reminds me... I should probably give my sister her obey hoodie back soon.

[Duexy]

I hadn't even seen the original picture until I clicked the link.

Same here, this story is ridiculous.



basically

[tragic_harmony]

thats fucking stupid. if anything obama should sue!

[IAPAI]

AP claiming copyright on that = retarded

[Adeniz19]

isn't fairey really not making any money off this poster? and why take so long to finally take legal action over this?