There was an interesting article in the South African marketing
industry publication Bizcommunity about street art. The
article discussed how certain big brands have been taking street
art (graffiti) and using it in their marketing and branding. And
they've been doing this without seeking consent from the
graffiti artists. So, what IP issues arise here?
According to the article, a street artist by the name of Jason
"Revok" Williams recently got into a spat with the
fashion brand H&M. Williams was upset because H&M had used
street art, in the form of chevrons, that he had painted on a
handball court in Brooklyn, New York as part of the branding and
marketing material for the New Routine sportswear brand. Williams
said that this amounted to copyright infringement. He also said
that the association with the New Routine brand had caused him
reputational damage. H&M's response was that Williams was
in no position to assert any rights because his artwork was
illegal, in
