Cali Killa hit the streets of Los Angeles in the summer of 2010 with his 'Hipsters Beware' campaign. Well, it seems that Urban Outfitters liked the concept so much that they straight ripped the design and started selling t-shirts . . .
A friend of the artist says that Cali Killa has not given permission for his artwork to be used, and has not been compensated in any way.
Its a real risk for street artists who put powerful images on the streets that these images will be taken and used without giving credit to the artist themselves. The most notable local example was Green Day's featuring Euthanasia's artwork in one of its videos. The case is currently under litigation, and has been for years.
Cali Killa is pursuing his options for retribution, and MELROSEandFAIRFAX will continue to keep up to date on how it plays out.
^Cali Killa's 'Hipsters Beware' paste, up with Cryptik and The Status Faction.
**Thanks to According to G for sourcing the story**
Dani
ReplyDeletewtf,this is just wrong!
Cease and Desist. Sue them!
ReplyDeleteThis is the problem with street art, there is zero claim to vandalism, if you want to make money off of your work, go through the proper channels, if you want to be a street artist, then you don't do it for the money. I can see a pile of idiots who think they own the work without sending a print to the Library of Congress protecting it before you start spraying buildings. Dumb people always lose...and really the OBEY was the first and should be the last...you fukn hacks.
ReplyDeletefuck hipsters, I hope corporations rip them off to the fullest extent
ReplyDeletei agree that street art shouldnt be about the money... but also urban shouldnt be stealing his art. i feel that cali killa should at least get them to stop selling the shirts. urban is known for doing this kind of stuff. fuck corporations that think they can get away with everything (which usually they can).
ReplyDeletemy buddy did a sick pic of the cali flag with the bear riding a bike, less than a year later... urban outfitters is slangin a shirt with the same design
ReplyDeleteperhaps urban outfitters should go through proper channels as well. artists should rally around cali killa whether you like his work or not because this is a bigger issue on fredom of expression. keep the good fight cali and ride the wave.last time I checked urban outfitters posted a 77 million profit last year
ReplyDeleteI love cryptiks work in the back ground! :)
ReplyDeleteThere's companies here in Australia that just blatantly steal any photographer's work and other art from the internet. Print them on t-shirts and make enough to money to not care. They just hope for the best and sell out before anyone does anything. Am sure there is everywhere. Completely crap to not have the style to get there own images created...
ReplyDelete