WCP The West Country Prince

[Sundowner]

Just spotted this on ebay. Banksy's images have been reproduced countless times the world over, but this is surely going a step too far in terms of reproducing the original print editions? The listing states they are reproductions and go so far as to have a "Banksy Copy" stamp on them, but personally I think this is overstepping the mark and I am sure POW will have an issue with this. Does this not violate their copyright (as well as the artist's), even though it says they are reproductions? cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250859485331&clk_rvr_id=249164526856

[fingerz]

seen them earlier and was wondering the same thing

[curiousgeorge]

If they do then so does every other repro Banksy on ebay...

Copyright and Banksy

I suspect they read the forum looking at the other items, I wonder if a lot of forum members reading this are thinking should i be going mad at this? or buy some images i like just for the image alone rather than price tags?

[craigf]

Jul 21, 2011 20:31:51 GMT 1 Sundowner said:

Does this not violate copyright, even though it says they are reproductions? cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250859485331&clk_rvr_id=249164526856

Hmmm, I would expect they do violate copyright and being such clear copies doesn't sit well with me. To easy for one be sold already framed with the implication its the real deal

[Trevorm]

Jul 21, 2011 20:40:48 GMT 1 craigf said:

Jul 21, 2011 20:31:51 GMT 1 Sundowner said:

Does this not violate copyright, even though it says they are reproductions? cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250859485331&clk_rvr_id=249164526856

Hmmm, I would expect they do violate copyright and being such clear copies doesn't sit well with me. To easy for one be sold already framed with the implication its the real deal

Too true. 'Somebody' should stop this. There's an obvious implication of a fraud in the making

[shakey1181]

I'd love to see banksy take someone to court...

[Rolex]

Jul 21, 2011 21:23:43 GMT 1 shakey1181 said:

I'd love to see banksy take someone to court...

Don't think he'l turn up some how. This is why people get away with doing stuff like this.

[mojjac]

Jul 21, 2011 21:23:43 GMT 1 shakey1181 said:

I'd love to see banksy take someone to court...

Would be interesting but is as likely to happen as Steve Allen being polite about Katie Price on his radio show.

[mmmike]

I like it. I hope someone does a high end (but cheap) canvas version.

I bet Banksy doesn't care.

[Brushstrokes 75]

Let alone the copyright infringement (which Banksy would never do). Ebay won't remove anything if Banksy (or his representation) don't ask them too, I think it's a good idea (if you would have the right).

Sometimes you like an image, don't want or don't have thousands to spend on it. Here you can get a quality copy - [assuming it's a good quality] (let's see what's it worth compared to the original).

I actually like the fact it stamped copy on the back with their own blindstamp which makes it more legal in their illegality. I think it might have been a problem for Mr B. otherwise.

Price is a bit steep though IMO knowing that the guy can print has many as he wants..

I don't see what the problem is. As I recall, most people here keep saying that it's only about the image. So, why pay £2K for a print if you can buy the same quality image for £30 lol

[chaserawr]

damn he even is doing HMV ones. I want it.... Is it really the same quality as the original? I guess the screenprint isnt that difficult.

[crooked]

these are top notch repros, i have no problem with it, but people trying to sell theres might

[mojjac]

Hope they do a happy choppers.

[crooked]

Jul 21, 2011 23:02:38 GMT 1 @mojjac said:

Hope they do a happy choppers.

thay would be badass. also a queen vic and liita

[Brushstrokes 75]

I'm tempted too. Thenif you want the real deal for other reasons you can pay the price!

[mojjac]

You could have the whole `Banksy portfolio for less than the cost of one u/s print.

[freeview]

The guy is probably a member here and reading all this so careful w hat you wish for !

IMO This is damaging and could really devalue ligit prints

[mojjac]

Jul 21, 2011 23:23:13 GMT 1 @freeview said:

The guy is probably a member here and reading all this so careful w hat you wish for !

IMO This is damaging and could really devalue ligit prints

I would have thought that if you loved the art for the message that it conveyed then its material value would not matter ?

[freeview]

Jul 21, 2011 23:30:14 GMT 1 @mojjac said:

Jul 21, 2011 23:23:13 GMT 1 @freeview said:

The guy is probably a member here and reading all this so careful w hat you wish for !

IMO This is damaging and could really devalue ligit prints

I would have thought that if you loved the art for the message that it conveyed then its material value would not matter ?

Unless you owned said prints.

I know what your saying though

[crooked]

Jul 21, 2011 23:23:13 GMT 1 @freeview said:

The guy is probably a member here and reading all this so careful w hat you wish for !

IMO This is damaging and could really devalue ligit prints

people will always pay extra for the real thing

[Guest]

Jul 21, 2011 23:23:13 GMT 1 @freeview said:

The guy is probably a member here and reading all this so careful w hat you wish for !

IMO This is damaging and could really devalue ligit prints

How could this devalue legit prints? Stuff like this has been on eBay for years. Most people now ask for a COA before they buy and you aren't going to get one of those for these. I don't see the issue, its all about if you want the image on your wall or the signature for bragging rights.

[connecta1]

...'the-west-country-prince'??

I reckon it's Banksy himself knocking them out for a laugh

[Rolex]

Agree with freeview, if you want the price of your original banksy prints to go down in value ( especially unsigned ) then buy these prints. Be very careful of what you wish for!

[mattgold]

I understand the ill feeling people have for this... and it doesn't sit completely well with me.

But I have to admit, if I had the opportunity to get a Hirst Valium reproduction printed in high quality for similar (even a bit more) I'd jump on it. Call it hypocritical... and you'd be right.

-M

[Rolex]

Jul 22, 2011 0:56:56 GMT 1 mattgold said:

I understand the ill feeling people have for this... and it doesn't sit completely well with me.

But I have to admit, if I had the opportunity to get a Hirst Valium reproduction printed in high quality for similar (even a bit more) I'd jump on it. Call it hypocritical... and you'd be right.

-M

And you would be happy to tell all your friends that it is fake Damien Hirst yes.
I don't think so . It's know different to wearing a fake watch, you would feel that you had cheated yourself.

[crooked]

Jul 22, 2011 1:20:18 GMT 1 Rolex said:

Jul 22, 2011 0:56:56 GMT 1 mattgold said:

I understand the ill feeling people have for this... and it doesn't sit completely well with me.

But I have to admit, if I had the opportunity to get a Hirst Valium reproduction printed in high quality for similar (even a bit more) I'd jump on it. Call it hypocritical... and you'd be right.

-M

And you would be happy to tell all your friends that it is fake Damien Hirst yes.
I don't think so . It's know different to wearing a fake watch, you would feel that you had cheated yourself.

they wouldnt be very good friends if they asked ;D

[Lunch Special]

how could anyone say its exactly the same unless its made on the same print presses, inks are from same source, the SCREEN ITSELF WAS NOT MADE BY BANKSY! how is it anything near the original?

[mattgold]

Jul 22, 2011 1:28:00 GMT 1 crooked said:

Jul 22, 2011 1:20:18 GMT 1 Rolex said:

And you would be happy to tell all your friends that it is fake Damien Hirst yes.
I don't think so . It's know different to wearing a fake watch, you would feel that you had cheated yourself.

they wouldnt be very good friends if they asked ;D

I don't know. I am quick to point out certain Bankys on my wall are unsigned (oh, wow, a Banksy? ...Yeah, but it's not signed) - I'd have no problem telling people a Hirst wasn't real.

Just like I tell people, no that Warhol is from a MUCH later run of prints. I like the piece and know I'm just not going to spend $X amount on it (especially because of all the fakes)... However, I'd like to have one.

My sister has 'Starry Night' framed an hung in her room... Is she trying to trick people into thinking she was into Vince before he 'went so mainstream'? I think not.


My art isn't hung a status symbol, it's simply what I like to look at.

-M

[shakey1181]

agreed - esp laugh now, which i would love, i'd stick it in a frame, on the wall and it would constantly remind me that I need to save up and change it to a real one. I wouldn't have an issue that it was a fake, or telling people so.

[johnnyh]

They may get a polite note from POW about this.

However it will not effect the vaue of the orig prints etc. Never has.

You can always buy a copy of anything but it does not effect the originals price whether that be a hand bag, watch or a piece of art.

Warhol is a perfect example of this with the Sunday B issues versus the originals. Massive price difference and they claim done on the same press.

Ikea ( athena for the oldies sold copies) never altered the price of art or proper prints.

For those who cannot afford an original and there is nothing wrong with that. You can have one on your wall.

So I do not have a problem with the prints I do however have a problem that they are unlicensed as this is just someone making a quick buck off someone else's talent. Which in my humble opinion is wrong.

Banksy currently decides with POW what his issues sizes are signed or unsigned etc and that is his right. If he wants a zillion copies of that in IKEA etc he can do it but he decides not to and in my view that should be respected.

eg. I am talentless as an artist. But could get someone to reprint all my prints etc. Not very difficult.

Art is more than pictures. Collecting art is more than collecting images. Not saying it should be restricted and its not.

Look up any Banks or any other artists image on the net and you can see it. This however is a copy of someone else's work. If Banksy wants more copies of thes prints avail he will release them.

thx johnny