Street Artist Mr. Brainwash Getting Sued Over Run DMC Photograph

Ruh-roh.
Street artist Thierry Guetta, otherwise known as Mr. Brainwash, is being sued by photographer, Glen Friedman, for copyright infringement.
Friedman says that Mr. Brainwash improperly used his photograph of Run DMC, taken in Queens, NY in 1985, and is seeking unspecified damages.
Mr. Brainwash, whose work can be seen in the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop along with the works of fellow street artist, Banksy, is being accused of using the photograph in several of his artwork without paying any licensing fees.
Friedman’s attorney, Douglas Linde, has even gone so far as calling Mr. Brainwash a “blatant plagiarist.”
Yikes.
A trial date is set for later this year.
This is a tough one. The artwork is mostly stencil – an actual photograph is not used in the art – but it looks like it still violates infringement laws.
Bummer.