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AP countersues artist over Obama posters

The Associated Press has countersued an artist over his famous campaign posters of President Barack Obama. The AP says the image’s uncredited, uncompensated use of an AP photo signals a threat to journalism.The nonprofit news cooperative filed suit against Shepard Fairey on Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan. Fairey’s spokesman and lawyers had no immediate response.Fairey sued the AP last
/ Source: The Associated Press

The Associated Press has countersued an artist over his famous campaign posters of President Barack Obama. The AP says the image’s uncredited, uncompensated use of an AP photo signals a threat to journalism.

The nonprofit news cooperative filed suit against Shepard Fairey on Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan. Fairey’s spokesman and lawyers had no immediate response.

Fairey sued the AP last month over his “Obama Hope” and “Obama Progress” posters, based on a 2006 picture taken for the news cooperative. He says he didn’t violate copyright law because he dramatically changed the image.

The AP says his image amounts to copying and commercializing another’s work. AP President Tom Curley says news organizations must protect their intellectual property rights so they can continue providing information.