Associated Press is suing Shepard Fairey for his use of the news cooperative's copy righted image in his ubiquitous HOPE posters. Fairey acknowledged that his work was based on AP's photo and now AP wants compensation. I'm no expert in copy right law, but I do know that the poster was political and that this lawsuit is annoying at best. Watch out Ben Ray Luján, AP might come after you too!

From my peanut gallery

Photographer and friend Chris Hamby weighs in: "It's fair use. The image was interpreted and changed enough that it became Fairey's. From what I remember about it, the photo was a one-off from a big series, and I don't think any publications picked it up."

There you have it AP. Lawsuit is off.