Appropriation artist Richard Prince has responded to a suit filed by French photographer Patrick Cariou with, unsurprisingly, a fair-use defense. Artinfo.com reports that the legal documents prepared by the defendants’ attorneys assert that Prince’s works used only small portions of Cariou’s photographs.
However, all examples of Prince’s adaptations actually show the opposite: large images by the original photographer combined with physically small embellishments by Prince. The artist also claims to have enhanced, rather than decreased, the value of Cariou’s work with his use of it.
Since such claims seem incredibly disingenuous, it is unlikely that the case will see trial. Prince has previously settled similar lawsuits out of court, and there is reportedly an offer on the table here as well. It is likely only a matter of the actual dollar figure.