Policy

Obama "HOPE" Artist Sentenced to Probation for Fabricating Documents

He used a copyrighted AP photo and claimed fair use, but when counter sued tried to make it appear he used a different AP photo than the one he actually did

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Shepard Fairey, the artist who created an iconic 2008 election poster of Barack Obama based on an Associated Press photo, was sentenced to 300 hours of community service for destroying documents and manufacturing evidence in litigation with the AP.

Fairey, of Los Angeles, was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine by U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas today in Manhattan federal court. Fairey, who pleaded guilty to the crimes in February, faced as long as six months in jail.