you aint a pimp, yousa FAIREY!

For my New Media class on Fridays, we have different prompts every week that we have to write a blog about to be shared with all of our Creative Academy peers. This week’s prompt was to read an article about a copyright/trademark infringement case and our opinion on it. Here’s mine for the week:

The case I am looking at is one we’ve all been hearing about this past week whether it be on the bulletin wall on the 5th floor, the news and even our guest lecturer last Friday – The Associated Press’s accusation of Shepard Fairey’s copyright infringement of Barack Obama’s photographed portrait.

Shepard Fairey, the famous graphic designer known for the popular Obama “HOPE” campaign poster, is being sued by the Associated Press for his artistic transformation of a rightfully copyrighted photograph of President Barack Obama owned by the Associated Press. Though Fairey admits he used the said photo, he did not ask for permission to use the photo to be altered for the campaign. The sue ensues.

I already have my opinions about Shepard Fairey – but I’ll try to stay as unbiased as I possibly can with this graphic designer of a man. Fairey’s lawyers say he is protected by fair use provisions of the copyright law, that 100% of the HOPE poster proceeds go to the Obama campaign (yeah right) and that he recognizes the use of the photo. The Associated Press says that any use of the photo requires it’s written permission and seeks credit and compensation for Fairey’s use.

As a dood who makes a living off of “borrowing” and “transforming” existing art pieces, it’d be interesting to see Fairey get a taste of his own medicine. And again. The outcome of the AP vs. Fairey case is not yet reached but I can imagine Fairey being let go with a slap on the wrist as he always does. I’d like to see him fined for copyright infringement and pay his dues to the photographer of the original image. Oh, and apparently Fairey was arrested last Friday night on some warrants for tagging up a building – but I think that was a total publicity stunt. He just victimized himself so his fans have some excuse to defend the poor guy.

Just thought I’d share my thoughts with ya!

AP alleges copyright infringement of Obama image

NEW YORK (AP) – On buttons, posters and Web sites, the image was everywhere during last year’s presidential campaign: A pensive Barack Obama looking upward, as if to the future, splashed in a Warholesque red, white and blue and underlined with the caption HOPE. 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.

Via The Associated Press