Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • Contact Us
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • AMMpro

Prince Loses "Yes, Rasta" Copyright Case

March 21, 2011 by Marion Maneker

Last week, a judge ruled against Richard Prince’s argument of fair use when he incorporated photographs from Patrick Cariou’s book “Yes, Rasta” into his Canal Zone paintings:

Mr. Prince testified in the case that he had no interest in the original meaning of the photographs he used, Judge Batts wrote. In creating the “Canal Zone” works he mainly used the imagery as a way to make references to painters likePicasso and Willem de Kooning and to connect the works to a post-apocalyptic screenplay he was planning that featured a reggae band.

For that reason, and because Mr. Prince used the imagery for commercially available paintings, Judge Batts ruled that he and the Gagosian gallery violated Mr. Cariou’s copyrights. She ordered all unsold copies of the “Canal Zone” paintings and other related works to be impounded and ordered that the gallery inform anyone who already owned copies of the works that it would be a violation of copyright laws to display them. (She also ordered the parties to return to court in May to discuss possible damages.)

Judge Rules Against Artist Richard Prince in Copyright Case (Arts Beat/New York Times)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Prince Stuck to His Guns; His Collectors May Too.Prince Stuck to His Guns; His Collectors May Too.
  • Richard Prince’s DefenseRichard Prince’s Defense
  • Richard Prince Market Snapshot, 2014-2016Richard Prince Market Snapshot, 2014-2016
  • Richard Prince Has Kenny Schachter & a Bunch of Lawyers WorriedRichard Prince Has Kenny Schachter & a Bunch of Lawyers Worried
  • Richard Prince Makes an Anti-Trump Statement; But Everyone Wants Talk About the Renounced Work’s ValueRichard Prince Makes an Anti-Trump Statement; But Everyone Wants Talk About the Renounced Work’s Value
  • Pinault Visits Prince by HelicopterPinault Visits Prince by Helicopter
  • Print
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Artists Tagged With: Richard Prince

Advertise on Art Market Monitor with Nectar Ads

Top Posts

  • Sotheby's Celebrates Bauhaus's Centenary with 25 Works in Imp-Mod Sales
  • Frieze LA Sales Report
  • Sotheby's to Sell SFMoMA's $35m Rothko for Acquisitions Firepower
  • Early Gauguin Work Emerges at Sotheby's Paris After a Century in Same Family
  • Four of Picasso's Women Valued at $28m Come to Christie's from Rose-Walters Collection
  • Christie's Announces $70m Picasso Self Portrait
  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • David Hockney's $20m Pacific Coast Highway & Santa Monica
  • Cave Painting Porn Discovered


  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • Art Loans
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Advertise on Art Market Monitor