Jeff Koons' Epic Failed 'Balloon Dog' Lawsuit vs Park Life

Among the items San Francisco gallery and store Park Life stocked for holiday gifts was that most innocent of objects — a bookend in the shape of a balloon dog, made by a company based in Toronto but right before Christmas, Park Life co-owner Jamie Alexander received an unusual Christmas present. Lawyers for artist Jeff Koons sent a letter asking Park Life to stop selling and advertising the balloon dog bookends, return them to some mutually agreed upon address, tell Koons how many have been sold and disclose the maker of said bookends — a fact, Alexander said, that could easily be found via Google. Koons staked his claim on one of his most famous projects from the past few years, the shiny and large "Balloon Dog," which was shown in New York and France, among other places. Artists, of course, have every reason to protect their rights, but this legal threat brings up an interesting question: Can one copyright a balloon animal? And how does an artist who has been repeatedly sued for inappropriately using others' copyrighted images get off attacking Park Life? Alexander pulled the bookends from the Parklife store and its website but doesn't agree with the cease-and-desist order. "This man can't own something that existed before him," Alexander said. The main issue in artist copyright, according to San Francisco lawyer Simon Frankel of Covington & Burling LLP, a firm not attached to the case, is the protection of individual expression. On the one hand, the balloon dog bookend is unquestionably like Koons' "Balloon Dog"; on the other, they both look like any children's birthday party balloon animal. "The idea that Jeff Koons would have an exclusive right to make objects in the shape of a balloon dog simply because he made one is surprising and inconsistent … with copyright law," said Frankel, noting that by that logic, Koons could also pursue legal action against balloon artists everywhere. The bookend's manufacturer, imm Living, declined to comment beyond stating it would fight the cease-and-desist letter, which it also received. The company's goods are sold in more than 700 stores in the United States. Alexander said Park Life isn't planning any legal action, having sold only a handful of the objects for $55 each, and awaits word from imm Living. "The thing is, Jeff Koons has based his whole career on appropriating pop culture," he said. "That's fine, but don't sue someone else for doing the same thing."

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Luke Chueh 'Inside Out' Print Release Details

Here is a slick NEW print called 'Inside Out' by artist Luke Chueh. This is one of his better pieces of late. This is a 15 x 20 inch giclee on 330GSM paper with an edition size of 50, comes signed and numbered by the artist for $60 each. These will be available at 12pm EST on February 20th. This is being released through 1xRun.

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Ben Eine 'Calculate' In Action In Shoreditch Video

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Banksy 'Cut It Out' Book PDF Available Online FREE

Banksy's third book 'Cut It Out' book is available a pdf online, if you don't already own it!

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Team Robbo South African 'Exit Through The Gift Shop' Ruse

TEAM ROBBO SOUTH AFRICA from Team Robbo SA on Vimeo.

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Secca NCNC 'Dalek' Installation Time Lapsed Video

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Cartrain vs Damien Hirst - Cartrain Interview

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Elicser Mural In Buenos Aires

Here is a fresh NEW portrait piece by HUG graff crew member artist Elicser. This is some where in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am actively looking for more of his South American work to show you, hold tight.

Joshua Budich 'Grow Your Own' Print Release Details

Here is a little bit of a different of a print style from artist Joshua Budich. This is called 'Grow Your Own', to be honest when I read the heading on the email I expected something different in the baskets. This is a 4 colour 18 x 24 inch screenprint on 100lb French speckletone non-hemp paper with an edition size of 100, comes signed and numbered by the artist for $45 each. This will be available on Friday February 11th through the good peeps at PosterCauseProject.

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Awesome Interview With Jose Parla

Jose Parla starts at 2:37 and goes to 4:44 and 6:27 through to 7:17 and then at 9:07 to the end

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