Obama Image Copyright Case Is Settled; New York Times, 1/12/11

David W. Dunlap, New York Times; Obama Image Copyright Case Is Settled:

"The Associated Press and the artist Shepard Fairey have settled their copyright battle over the unlicensed use by Mr. Fairey of an A.P. photograph of Barack Obama in the memorable 2008 “Hope” poster. The A.P. announced the settlement on Wednesday.

Under the agreement, The A.P. and Mr. Fairey are to share the rights to make posters and merchandise bearing the “Hope” image, which was based on a photo taken by Mannie Garcia in 2006, and collaborate on a project in which Mr. Fairey will create a series of images based on A.P. photographs. There was also an undisclosed financial settlement.

Perhaps most significantly, the two sides agreed to disagree on whether copyright law was infringed."