Greetings from US copyright law!
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The subtext behind a vibrant and Instagram-worthy “Greetings from Buffalo” mural in Buffalo, New York, is a not-so-cheery message: you are not welcome to feature this artwork on postcards and marketing materials without giving credit to the artist.
According to buffalonews.com, seven years after Casey William Milbrand unveiled his most popular work he’s facing criticism for sending invoices to businesses and institutions requesting $5,000 to $180,000 for each alleged copyright infringement for using the image in income-generating marketing, promotional and branding materials without attribution to the artist.
He argued that “Greetings from Buffalo” is protected by federal copyright and that with a lawsuit he could pursue up to $150,000 if he can prove his work was intentionally reproduced for profit, according to the news article.
Mr. Milbrand, in defending his work and his fight, said in a statement that he wants “to inspire other Buffalo-based artists and artists across the country how to value themselves, how to respect themselves, and most importantly, how to protect their work as working professionals. Copyrighting every single mural design is necessary if you want to be a professional artist.”
