Warning--It's Illegal to Sell Gates Photos
I just saw this on the Progressive Review Web site:
Friday, February 18, 2005
CORPORATE TRESPASSING IN CENTRAL PARK
[This is the second such attempt by a corporation to invade urban public space improperly citing copyright law. The other involved a sculpture in Chicago where the city is now backing down after a public outcry. Robert Ledeman is a NYC artist activist]
ROBERT LEDERMAN - This Christo - Central Park Conservancy - Bloomberg fiasco is taking on some amazing twists. Today, a representative of Christo's German publisher informed street artists, photographers and art vendors around Central Park that they would be subject to arrest for selling any images of The Gates. I got the number of this person, Dr. Fils, and had a lengthy talk with him.
Christo's publisher claims a vast new degree of copyright and trademark protection. They claim they will prosecute anyone who sells their own original photos of the Gates; who makes and sells a drawing of the Gates or who even uses the words, the Gates, without their permission. They claim to have copyrighted the words, The Gates.
They also claim to have an agreement with the media that media sources may only use news photos of the gates for the period the installation is up. That after that the media will only be allowed to use "official" photos of The Gates.They also claim that all of Central Park is now "private property." Talk about privatization. Be sure to thank Christo, Bloomscrooge and the CPC.
I called the Central Park Precinct on this and they said if an artist is selling their own art (rather than a copy of an official piece of Christo merchandise) it was legal to do so.
Friday, February 18, 2005
CORPORATE TRESPASSING IN CENTRAL PARK
[This is the second such attempt by a corporation to invade urban public space improperly citing copyright law. The other involved a sculpture in Chicago where the city is now backing down after a public outcry. Robert Ledeman is a NYC artist activist]
ROBERT LEDERMAN - This Christo - Central Park Conservancy - Bloomberg fiasco is taking on some amazing twists. Today, a representative of Christo's German publisher informed street artists, photographers and art vendors around Central Park that they would be subject to arrest for selling any images of The Gates. I got the number of this person, Dr. Fils, and had a lengthy talk with him.
Christo's publisher claims a vast new degree of copyright and trademark protection. They claim they will prosecute anyone who sells their own original photos of the Gates; who makes and sells a drawing of the Gates or who even uses the words, the Gates, without their permission. They claim to have copyrighted the words, The Gates.
They also claim to have an agreement with the media that media sources may only use news photos of the gates for the period the installation is up. That after that the media will only be allowed to use "official" photos of The Gates.They also claim that all of Central Park is now "private property." Talk about privatization. Be sure to thank Christo, Bloomscrooge and the CPC.
I called the Central Park Precinct on this and they said if an artist is selling their own art (rather than a copy of an official piece of Christo merchandise) it was legal to do so.
posted by Cal Vornberger at
3/09/2005 01:40:00 PM
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