Copyright intellectual property

Copyright infringement?

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AP photo 2006 Mannie Garcia\Shepard Fairey

Here’s an article about one artist using a photograph that was taken by another. This is a very good example of how sticky this issue can be: Calif. artist sues AP over image of Obama.

Personally, I feel “do unto others as you would have done to you” was unfortunately overlooked. It would have been wise, and respectful for Fairey to talk to Garcia first about what he wanted to do and seek permission. Credit should have been given to Mannie either way because that is the right thing to do. I honestly feel, more than ever, that we artists need to respect each other’s work. See my earlier post on copyright.


What do you think?

Next!

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Okay, so I went to a great forum last Wednesday night. It was put on by the City of Olympia’s Park and Recreation Dept. and was filmed live for later broadcast on our local TCTV. A lawyer who volunteers with The Washington Lawyers for the Arts spoke to us about Copyright issues.

The copyright on any “works in a tangible medium” is the life of the artist + 70 years. It was a great two hours and a lot of interesting scenarios were shared by some of the artists. One lady is a calligrapher and she uses quotes from literary works. Under the current law, she is infringing on the copyright owner. She was told that she should seek permission from the author or publisher before using any quotes from works where the creator is still alive.

I make, actully made, political collages out of magazine images. This I will cease doing because I am infringing on the intellectual property of the photographer. I had no idea….I suggest you do some research before you take an existing image and incorporate it into your own work.

Library of Congress (then Copyright Office)

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