81-year-old Canadian artist and experimental filmmaker Michael Snow is suing Toronto developers and a Hollywood producer for $950,000 in damages after he was denied payment for an installation, which they argue was never officially commissioned. Snow is suing for breach of contract, misappropriation of personality, and unjust enrichment in reference to Tower of Film, a piece he had begun for the entrance to the new headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival. According to the Toronto Star,

Snow claims the defendants entered into agreements with both Snow and the City of Toronto to produce a modern version of historic moving-picture technology — creating an artistic monument to film, the medium rapidly being replaced by digital technology.

Also via Artinfo.

Got wind of this story via our good friend and artist Ruben Verdu.

It seems another ad agency, Ogilvy & Mather located in Jakarta, has taken the work of NY sculptor Ryan Johnson and used it to promote not just themselves, but the shipping company UPS. The website, Co.Design, has their take:

Now, you might still think that there’s no way a bunch of ad hacks from Jakarta could have seen the work of a relatively obscure artist in New York. But Johnson’s work has been extremely prominent on sites such as DesignBoom and Ffffound (which in particular, as any designer will tell you, has become a first-reference for creatives looking for “inspiration”).

If you take a look at both images, there’s such an obvious similarity that the UPS sculpture ads seem derivative works of Johnson’s sculptures. What do you think? I’m not so sure that an apology from Ogilvy would be enough. According to Co.Design, both UPS and Ogilvy have commented on this coincidence (as they call it). Both deny any wrongdoing.

Two men who sold fake Banksy prints were given a 12-month suspended sentence in July, at Kingston Crown Court, in west London. Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud. They were also banned from selling anything on the internet for five years and ordered to undertake 240 hours of community service. Via The Art Newspaper.

An ambitious plan that artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude pursued in Colorado for more than a decade — to cover a six-mile stretch of the Arkansas River with shimmering fabric — has come up against a wellspring of opposition, putting in question a $50 million project that local art organizations have hoped will bring the state prestige and millions in tourism dollars. Colorado’s Bureau of Land Management will continue to hear public opinions about Over the River, through September 13, and will announce its decision regarding the project in February.

Via Artinfo.

With dismal and one-sided reporting, such as this little nugget of tears by Ezra Klein, it’s no surprise that Newsweek magazine is on the brink of extinction. Klein takes on the proposed Schumer bill which will extend copyright protection to fashion designs.

On Aug. 5, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced S.3728: the Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act. He’s got 10 cosponsors—including three Republicans—and a big idea: to extend copyright protections to the fashion industry, where none currently exist. That’s right: none. I—well, not I, but someone who can sew—can copy Vera Wang’s (extremely expensive) dress and sell it to you right now (for much less), and Wang can’t do a thing about it.

Why the hell does it matter that three Republicans are for this bill? Setting that absurdity aside for a second and one notices a rehashing of an extremely tired argument:

Too often, copyrights are used not to protect consumers by making sure they have access to new products, but to protect the profits of producers.

Yes, copyright only helps strengthen large corporations and line the pockets of their shareholders. Blah, blah, blah. What about unknown or small-business fashion designers? Klein argues that they won’t have the monetary power to pursue litigation, but in fact, this is radically changing, and not just for fashion designers. Visual artists, musicians, and filmmakers–particularly those in the New York City area–have discovered that pro bono attorneys can certainly help in this regard. Perhaps pro bono attorneys will be there for these fashion designers as well. Make up  your own mind after reading Klein’s article here.

Get ready to rumble. The thrilla in Gothamilla. USC vs. Texas. Argentina vs. Brasil. Yankees vs. Dodgers. Manchester United vs. Barcelona.

U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said Monday that the selection of eight jurors for the Shepard Fairey vs. Associated Press three-week trial will start March 21 in New York.

For those needing citations, New York Post on it here; Seattle Times on it here. Don’t get too excited. Word on the street has it that settlement looms.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that for their fall benefit this year, NURTUREart is honoring yours truly and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. I am extremely touched–if not surprised–at this notification.

NURTUREart will be holding their benefit at the ZieherSmith gallery in Chelsea on October 12, at 7pm. If you’re an artist, you may also submit an artwork for consideration for their exhibition and sale (Deadline is Sept. 3, 2010). This year’s exhibition curators are Dan Cameron, Ceci Moss, Jane Panetta, and Krista Saunders.  I really hope

Here’s the vital info:

Ticket Prices:

• $200.00 VIP Tickets Purchased Before October 1st: Includes early admission to the VIP Benefit for two and one work of art
• $250.00 VIP Tickets Purchased After October 1st: Includes all of the above
• $75.00 General Admission Tickets: Includes entrance to the Benefit after the VIP preview

Benefit Details (as of August 10th):

• Date and Location: Tuesday, October 12th at ZieherSmith gallery
• Honoring: Sergio Muñoz Sarmiento of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
• Benefit Artist Submission curated by: Dan Cameron (Prospect New Orleans), Ceci Moss (Rhizome.org), Jane Panetta (MoMA), and 2009-2010 NURTUREart curatorial alum, Krista Saunders.

For more information please view NURTUREart’s website here. Hope to see you there!