Intellectual Property Theft: Itís Not Just For Slackers On Napster Anymore
The Wall Street Journal tries to get what they didnít pay for -- the right to use a Chinese calligrapherís rendering of the word ìdaoî -- the phonetic translation of ìDow,î as in ìDow Jones.î What's behind their wanting his work to be a freebie? Letís just call it ìselective capitalism.î
(via Romenesko)
Come on now. This guy gives a copy of the artwork to the Wall Street Journal in 1994, works with the company until 2001, and then claims both that he discovered the commercial use just last year and also that we worked with the Journal for 10 years to collect evidence of its malfeasance? Does that really make sense?
Isn't it far more likely that he didn't care until he discovered (some time last year) that a law suit could earn some money in the well respected Chinese courts?
Bubba Jones at September 25, 2003 1:10 PM
It doesn't matter how long he waited or what his motivations were. The point is, it's HIS work. He owns the rights to it, same as I own all rights to my column, and if someone runs it without my permission, I'm going to sue their ass blind. The same goes for the Napster argument by people stealing music. I don't care how overpriced people think CDs are, or how jealous they are of Madonna's gazillions; it's her music and she's free to give it away if she so desires -- but other people are not free to take it for free if she does not choose to give it away.
(Amy Alkon) at September 25, 2003 2:21 PM
It's amusing that $49,000 and a written apology isn't enough compensation for an artist whose work is concerned with "the one path to wisdom" and leading the spiritual life. Maybe he needs to meditate a bit more.
Lena Cuisina at September 26, 2003 9:25 AM