Banksy accuses clothing brand Guess of stealing artworks

Banksy has deed retired astatine apparel retailer Guess, claiming the institution has utilized his designs without permission.

The graffiti creator posted a photograph of the Regent Street store successful London, and suggested shoplifters should visit.

He wrote connected Instagram: "They've helped themselves to my artwork without asking, however tin it beryllium incorrect for you to bash the aforesaid to their clothes?"

The store featured Banksy's Flower Thrower graffiti positive apparel bearing his images. Guess has not commented.

The institution said the postulation was created successful collaboration with Brandalised, which licenses designs by graffiti artists.

After the creator posted his connection encouraging shoplifting, a transgression offence, Guess closed the store to the public, placed information extracurricular and covered up the model display. Staff successful the store declined to talk to the BBC.

Speaking past period astir the collection, Guess main originative serviceman Paul Marciano said: "The graffiti of Banksy has had a phenomenal power that resonates passim fashionable culture.

"This caller capsule postulation with Brandalised is simply a mode for manner to amusement its gratitude."

Copyright lawyer Liz Ward, laminitis of Virtuoso Legal, said Guess "appear to person legitimately sourced the Banksy artwork via a 3rd party, namely Brandalised, who accidental they person rights to commercialise and usage Banksy's artwork connected goods".

She said: "It isn't known if Banksy approved oregon adjacent knew astir this deal. If helium did cognize astir it, past possibly his comments are determination to make immoderate benignant of guerrilla selling campaign. If helium didn't cognize astir it, past helium indispensable beryllium rather annoyed, particularly arsenic specified mainstream companies and brands don't accord with his anti-establishment views.

"The abbreviated constituent is that Banksy should beryllium pursing Brandalised and oregon Guess for infringement of his work. However, fixed she/he wants to stay anonymous, that whitethorn good beryllium impossible."

Copyright infringement is "extremely superior and tin origin agelong word commercialized damage", but is usually a civilian offence, she added - whereas shoplifting is simply a transgression offence.

"Whatever the rights and wrongs of this, it isn't close to promote shoplifting per se."

Banksy's representatives declined to remark further, portion Brandalised has besides not commented.

Earlier this week, Banksy won an appeal to let him to support the trademark of 1 of his astir celebrated images, a wealth wearing a sandwich board, astatine the EU Intellectual Property Office.

His artwork included a pistillate successful rollers and a state disguise holding a occurrence extinguisher, and a Vladimir Putin lookalike being thrown to the level by a kid successful a judo match.