Close Menu
NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    NERDBOT
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Movies & TV
    • Comics
    • Gaming
    • Collectibles
    • Science & Tech
    • Culture
    • Nerd Voices
    • About Us
      • Join the Team at Nerdbot
    NERDBOT
    Home»News»Banksy is Encouraging People to Steal from Guess
    Banksy's "Flower Thrower"
    Banksy's "Flower Thrower" (Source: GualdimG (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rage,_Flower_Thrower_Banksy_2003_Palestina_01.jpg))
    News

    Banksy is Encouraging People to Steal from Guess

    Amy DavisBy Amy DavisNovember 21, 20224 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    Graffiti artist Banksy has accused clothing retailer Guess of stealing his work for a window display. The Guess Regent Street location in London “stole” his “Flower Thrower” piece. So, he’s calling for fans to steal from them.

    The artist, who likes to remain anonymous, called out the brand in a social media post. “Attention all shoplifters Please go to Guess on Regent Street,” Banksy said to his 11.5 million followers on Instagram. “They’ve helped themselves to my artwork without asking, how can it be wrong for you to do the same to their clothes?”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/ClGt3p4Mljx/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cb59c813-d7ae-4801-927a-1bc0ee7eab21

    In response, the store closed, and covered up the window display. But here is where it gets weird, Guess may have had the rights to this all along. This display was to advertise its new line done in collaboration with Brandalised. Brandalised has, in what Guess called “an urban graffiti license whose mission is to offer Banksy fans affordable graffiti collectibles.” The line even has “with graffiti by Banksy” written on it. So it’s not like they are trying to cover up whose work it is.

    Andrew Gallagher, owner of Brandalised, has been battling with licensing for Banksy’s work for some time. Gallagher also owns the greeting card company Full Colour Black. He currently has two ongoing EU disputes with the street artist over licensing/selling images of Banksy’s work without permission. In 2014, Pest Control Office, the official body which acts on behalf of Banksy and authenticates his work, successfully applied for an EU trademark of the “Flower Thrower” piece.

    Then in March 2019, Full Colour Black started an invalidity action in an attempt to cancel the EU trademark. Gallagher’s company claims Banksy must copyright his work instead of registering trademarks to incorporate them. This caused Banksy’s trademark ruling for “Flower Thrower” to be upturned in 2020.

    Banksy has flat-out said “copyright is for losers.” There is also the fact that getting a copyright would mean he’d have to reveal his identity to Pest Control and the EU. Since copyrights exist to protect the rights of creators of artistic and literary works. While trademark is to protect a company’s name, brand identity, and product names. Art is for everyone. Hire artists to graffiti on your mural for an eyecatching branded project by visiting this website.   

    Bob Ross/Banksyfilms on YouTube

    It took the EU a year and a half to rule on these claims. In that time Banksy set up a brick-and-mortar pop-up shop called Gross Domestic Product, solely to push the trademark case into the public’s radar.  In typical Banksy fashion the shop only displayed items in the storefront and never opened its doors, its sales were done online. Banksy said this was “possibly the least poetic reason to ever make some art.”

    “A greetings card company is contesting the trademark I hold to my art and attempting to take custody of my name so they can sell their fake Banksy merchandise legally,” the artist said in a statement. But in September 2020, the EU Intellectual Property office panel ruled that he could not be identified as the unquestionable owner of this work. Also pointing out that the pop-up shop simply wasn’t enough to show true intention for the trademark. 

    Banksy's "Laugh Now"
    Banksy’s “Laugh Now” (Source: GualdimG (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laugh_Now_Banksy_2002_LA_01.jpg))

    This is the second time Full Color Black cost Banksy a trademark. In November 2018, they filed against Banksy’s trademark on his “Laugh Now” piece. Claiming that the trademark was filed in bad faith and that it was non-distinctive. In May 2021, this claim did temporarily lose him the trademark for the work. On November 15, 2022 he was not able to successfully appeal that decision. The courts said that Full Colour Black failed to prove the trademark was filed in bad faith.

    With all this legal drama there is not telling how this will play out. Stay tuned to Nerdbot for updates on this situation as they develop. 

    Do You Want to Know More?

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleWe’re Gonna See a De-Aged Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones 5”
    Next Article Disney Fans Celebrate Return of Bob Iger as CEO
    Amy Davis

    Hi, I’m Amy. I like long walks in the graveyard, horror movies, comic books, and bringing you the latest in nerd-centric news.

    Related Posts

    President Trump Will “Look” at Deporting Elon Musk

    July 2, 2025

    Revitalize Your Mind and Body: How New Image Wellness Transforms Mental Well-being

    July 2, 2025

    Netflix to Stream NASA Launches, Missions, and More

    June 30, 2025

    Is the BYDFi App Worth Downloading? A Practical User Review

    June 30, 2025
    "M3GAN," 2025

    “M3GAN 2.0” A Sequel That Forgets to Have Fun [Review]

    June 29, 2025

    “F1: The Movie” Thrilling Cars, Crash and Burn Story [Review]

    June 28, 2025
    • Latest
    • News
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Reviews

    Neil Druckmann Leaves HBO’s “Last of Us” Ahead of Season 3

    July 2, 2025

    President Trump Will “Look” at Deporting Elon Musk

    July 2, 2025
    game in Python

    Can you create a game in Python? A guide to game programming in Python

    July 2, 2025
    SMM Panels

    Running Smart Ad Campaigns on a Budget? Here’s How SMM Panels Make It Possible

    July 2, 2025

    President Trump Will “Look” at Deporting Elon Musk

    July 2, 2025

    Revitalize Your Mind and Body: How New Image Wellness Transforms Mental Well-being

    July 2, 2025

    Netflix to Stream NASA Launches, Missions, and More

    June 30, 2025

    Is the BYDFi App Worth Downloading? A Practical User Review

    June 30, 2025

    Marvel Studios Reveals BTS Look at “The Fantastic Four”

    July 2, 2025

    David Dastmalchian to Play M. Bison in “Street Fighter”

    July 1, 2025

    Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” Gets First Trailer

    July 1, 2025

    6-Film “Karate Kid” 4K Collector’s Set Available for Pre-Order

    June 30, 2025

    Neil Druckmann Leaves HBO’s “Last of Us” Ahead of Season 3

    July 2, 2025

    First Look at Chatsubo Bar from Apple TV+’s “Neuromancer” Series

    July 1, 2025
    “The Tiny Chef Show”

    “Tiny Chef Show” Raises $80k After Nickelodeon Cancelation

    June 28, 2025

    Possible “Very Young Frankenstein” Series in the Works at FX

    June 25, 2025
    "M3GAN," 2025

    “M3GAN 2.0” A Sequel That Forgets to Have Fun [Review]

    June 29, 2025

    “F1: The Movie” Thrilling Cars, Crash and Burn Story [Review]

    June 28, 2025

    “28 Years Later” We Live, We Die, Life Goes On [Review]

    June 21, 2025

    Official My Little Pony Coffee UNICORN POWERS Will Have You Feeling Magical!

    June 16, 2025
    Check Out Our Latest
      • Product Reviews
      • Reviews
      • SDCC 2021
      • SDCC 2022
    Related Posts

    None found

    NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Nerdbot is owned and operated by Nerds! If you have an idea for a story or a cool project send us a holler on [email protected]

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.