In Today’s Copyright Infringement News: Tori LaConsay VS H&M

Article written by: Asmara Wreksono
Posted on: February 1, 2012

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Ding ding, it’s time for a match between an artist versus a large corporation which uses the artist’s work without giving credit. Atlanta-based artist, Tori LaConsay was dumbfounded when her friends sent her links to the H&M online store and found her design used without her consent in some of the clothing retailer’s merchandise. Tori explained in an email forwarded to Regretsy.com as follows:

From: Tori LaConsay
Subject: Copyright infringement by H&M
To: Helen@regretsy.com

The East Atlanta Village is one of the most loving, tight-knit neighborhoods I’ve ever known. The residents are like family.

On December 14, 2008, I painted a love letter to my neighborhood. The sign was located on the main thoroughfare on Flat Shoals Avenue.

On one side of the sign, I painted, “You Look Nice Today” followed by a little heart. This was on the side of the sign that I thought people would see on their way to work. On the other side of the sign (the side I thought people would see the most on their return back to the neighborhood) I painted, “I’m So Happy You’re Here” with another little heart. It was a small gesture that I genuinely hoped would make my neighbors feel good.

A few days ago, friends started sending me links to the H&M UK website. Apparently, H&M were so impressed by my work, that they were using it on pillowcases and doormats, with no credit or compensation.

An email to H&M received the following response:

“We employ an independent team of over 100 designers. We can assure you that this design has not been influenced by your work and that no copyright has been infringed.”

Really?

I think it is pretty obvious what H&M have done. I hoped you wouldn’t mind sharing this with your readers.

Thank you,
Tori LaConsay

LaConsay also attached some pictures and usually in these type of cases we say ‘the artist claimed that her work is used on the company’s merchandises’, however in her case we’ll ask you, SoJones readers. Does it look like LaConsay throwing false claims?  Check the pictures below.  This is LaConsay’s original work:

These are what H&M sells:

A friend of the artist sent an email to the famous retailer, complaining about the copyright infringement.

And got this response:

H&M took to its Facebook account and tried to explain everything.

And guess what, they updated the Facebook page later and wrote this on the wall.

We smell some lying corporate pants on fire mega-compensation coming your way, Tori LaConsay.

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