Photographer Wants In On Fairey Lawsuit

© SHEPARD FAIREY
One of Shepard Fairey's posters based on a photo by Mannie Garcia.
Photographer Mannie Garcia has filed a court motion seeking to join the lawsuit between poster artist Shepard Fairey and the Associated Press.

Garcia shot the 2006 photograph of Barack Obama that Fairey used as the basis for one of his celebrated campaign posters. The AP and Fairey have been engaged in a copyright suit over the use of the image since February. So far Garcia hasn’t been part of the legal process.

Garcia’s motion makes the legal dispute more complicated. Garcia has asked to be included as a defendant—joining the AP in accusing Fairey of copyright infringement. (Anticipating a copyright lawsuit in February, Fairey sued the AP first.) Garcia also wants to be a counter-claim plaintiff—against the AP—since he and the AP cannot agree on who owns the copyright to the original photograph.

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