Is Shepard Fairey a thief?
It will probably be some time before we know the legal answer, but the common sense answer is pretty clear: absolutely not. The question gets some needed in-depth treatment courtesy of Steven Heller in his essay about the Fairey controversy for the New York Times. I don’t completely agree with Heller’s analysis, but his conclusion is spot on. It’s well worth a read for anyone who is concerned with creative rights and responsibilities in the age of new media. Organizations like the AP are on life support. They have failed miserably to adapt to a changing cultural climate and now find themselves so married to an outdated business model that they’re making desperation plays. When it comes to Shepard Fairey, I’ve never read (and nor can I imagine) a coherent argument in favor of the AP’s position. At best it seems like a sad attempt to return to status quo. At worst, misguided bullying. Personally, I have no use for Shepard Fairey. I don’t find him exciting or interesting, and I think his
