Artist KC Green, the creator of the iconic “This is fine” meme, has officially reached a settlement with the AI startup Artisan following a public dispute over the unauthorized use of his intellectual property.
The Conflict Over AI Advertising
The controversy ignited when Artisan utilized a derivative version of Green’s famous comic character to market its AI assistant, Ava. The startup’s advertisements, displayed on buses and subways, featured the familiar dog sitting in flames. However, the original caption was replaced with the phrase “My pipeline is on fire” to promote the service, “Hire Ava the AI BDR.”
Public Backlash and Legal Threats
Earlier this month, Green took to social media to denounce the company, claiming his artwork had been “stolen like AI steals.” He went as far as encouraging his followers to “vandalize” the advertisements if they encountered them in the wild. In an interview with TechCrunch, Green expressed deep frustration regarding the prospect of navigating the American court system, noting that he would much rather dedicate his time and energy to his professional comic work.
A Swift Resolution
Artisan initially responded to the backlash by asserting that it maintained “a lot of respect for Green and his work.” By early this week, Artisan founder and CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack confirmed that both parties had successfully negotiated a resolution.
Confirming the terms of the agreement to TechCrunch, Green stated that a settlement was reached rapidly. As part of the deal, Artisan has removed all advertisements in New York and San Francisco that featured the character, and Green has removed his initial social media post calling for the vandalism of the ads.
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