Shepard Fairey and the AP have settled their differences regarding Fairey’s famous Obama poster. Sounds like they are going into business together:

“The two sides have also agreed to work together going forward with the Hope image and share the rights to make the posters and merchandise bearing the [...]]]>

Shepard Fairey and the AP have settled their differences regarding Fairey’s famous Obama poster. Sounds like they are going into business together:

“The two sides have also agreed to work together going forward with the Hope image and share the rights to make the posters and merchandise bearing the Hope image and to collaborate on a series of images that Fairey will create based on AP photographs. The parties have agreed to additional financial terms that will remain confidential.”

The question is – where does this leave the photographer, Manny Garcia? He has contended that he was not on AP’s staff when the image was taken, AP says he was.

My blog post from October, 2009: After the Fairey Dust Settles.

In an interesting turn of events, artist Shepard Fairey has admitted to using a different photo than the one he originally claimed as the source for his Obama Hope poster. He’s also admitted that he made up information and destroyed other evidence, all in an effort to support his fair use claim [...]]]>

In an interesting turn of events, artist Shepard Fairey has admitted to using a different photo than the one he originally claimed as the source for his Obama Hope poster. He’s also admitted that he made up information and destroyed other evidence, all in an effort to support his fair use claim in his suit against the AP. The end result is that his lawyers have withdrawn from the case citing the same points as the AP.

You are Shepard Fairey. Through skill, experience, and luck you manage to create what is the most iconic graphic image of your generation. Your career should be set. When questions arise about your source material you can admit to the source of the image, settle with the photographer and his representatives (*in this case the AP), and any issues will go away.  Or you can do what is described above. Hard to believe the latter route was even considered viable.

The full story at the NY Times.

*I don’t think it’s been resolved yet but there is a dispute between the photographer, Mannie Garcia, and the AP as to who owns the copyright to the images in question.  It has little to do with Fairey’s actions since Garcia created both photos.  It would only point to whom Fairey must deal with in resolving this.