07/16/2009

Statement


Statement from The Associated Press on Mannie Garcia's Employment

AP clearly owns the copyright in the photograph as a work for hire. Mannie Garcia was a salaried employee from whom taxes were withheld and to whom overtime was paid, among many other documented indicators providing proof that he was a staff employee at the time the photo was taken in 2006. At the same time, the AP notes that Mr. Garcia shares AP's position that the photo used by Mr. Fairey is protected by copyright. Like AP, Mr. Garcia also disputes Shepard Fairey's assertion of the Fair Use Doctrine and claims infringement of copyright.

Paul Colford
Director of Media Relations