Shepard Fairey to face criminal investigation in Associated Press case

[The Northerner]

Source: Los Angeles Times

A judge in New York revealed today that artist Shepard Fairey is facing a criminal investigation in connection with his admitted misconduct in the ongoing legal case with the Associated Press, according to reports.

Alvin K. Hellerstein, a federal district judge, reportedly made the revelation today as part of a hearing where lawyers for Fairey and the AP were present.

A spokesman for the AP said in a statement issued this evening that the news organization has received a grand jury subpoena related to Fairey's misconduct during the case.

A lawyer representing Fairey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/01/shepard-fairey-under-criminal-investigation-in-ap-case.html

[madrchsod]

1. if ap wins will they go after obamas`s use of that image?

i`m betting they will

[peoli]

2. nice kawasaki

[midnight]

3. This is an unfortunate loss of perspective. If Obama wanted to be stupid he

could claim ownership because it was his face, and AP used it. Couldn't President Obama do that?

[No Elephants]

4. A man who runs for President gets his photo taken by a news organization while he is out in public.

On what theory can Obama claim that the news organization has no right to use its own photo?

If AP were using Obama's photo to make it seem that Obama endorses a product of theirs, that is different because it's a deceptive trade practice. But a news organization using its own photo of a Presidential candidate, taken while he was out in public? AP has every right to use its own legally-obtained photo and to prevent others from infringing its copyright interest in the photo.

Fairey may or may not have made "fair use" of the photo. That is for the court to decide. But, his attempts to monkey with evidence in a court case seem totally outrageous.