The British High Court rejected the ultimate attraction of Icelandic artist Oddur Eysteinn Friðriksson, known as ODEE. He tried to retain ownership of concept artworks in the form of a website representing Iceland’s largest fishing company Samherji, which said it was alleged to play a role in the so-called Fishrot scandal.
Odee did the work, titled We are sorryin 2023. This is a official website of Samherji copied by a fake British registration site, but the title of the artwork is posted in large font on the homepage.
The Fishrot scandal, with a cache of more than 30,000 files, was leaked in Namibia by a former Samherij employee and published by WikiLeaks in November 2019. Detailed email communication for “Fishrot Files” is an email communication between employees of Samherji that shows that the company paid millions of dollars in Namibia in Amibia in Amibia in Amibia in Amibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia in Ambibia.
Samherji strongly denied the allegations of bribery, while ten defendants, Namibian officials, protested their innocence in detention for more than five years. The case attacked the Namibian High Court in late 2023. Earlier this month, Icelandic District Attorney investigated Summergi’s activities in Namibia. The prosecutor has not yet decided whether to file any charges against any defendants.
In a ruling in London on Tuesday, Anthony Mann maintained a previously sought order from Samherji to require the ODEE to waive control of the website, including access to it. Mann accepted that the artist did not try to get commercial benefits from digital artworks, but he ruled that the site was not a parody. The judge added that the ODEE cannot count on Article 10 of the Human Rights Act on the protection of freedom of speech because the website is a “deceptive means”.
“regardless We are sorry In the London High Court ruled that it had nothing to do with its artistic value. ” Artnews. “In fact, its artistic value will only increase. Here, Samherji reveals his teeth for the world to appreciate. If this ruling is allowed to stand, the artwork of Andy Warhol, Banksy and others will be considered illegal. That’s why the case is equally the same as the litigation in European litigation. Contemporary artists must be able to express themselves on issues of public concern.”
Samherji did not respond from Artnews.
ODEE is represented by two attorneys from the International Lawyer Program (ILP). Ewa van der Merwe, senior program director at the company, told Art newspaper Samherji “deliberately proposed these procedures in the UK [using litigation to] curbs his artwork and exposure in Namibia and Iceland’s history involving leadership involvement in the biggest corruption scandal. ”
Van der Merwe added: “The ILP responds by organizing emergency legal agents so that ODEE and artists in his position can defend themselves from powerful companies.”
Last November, a British judge ruled Samherji after suing ODEE for creating an apology website. The decision comes after a hearing in London two months ago, when Somerge accused artists of possessing allegations of copyright and malicious falsehood. Samherji is also seeking damages and seeking summary judgment to determine the outcome without a trial, the judge accepts.
During the hearing, ODEE told the judge that his conceptual art practice is “cultural distraction,” a form of activism that subverts advertising’s corporate tools to challenge prevailing cultural narratives. In response, Samherji believes that cultural interference does not belong to the definition of art by the Oxford English Dictionary, We are sorry Therefore, it is not a legal work of art.
After the judge’s decision in November, Sommerge’s then-CEO Thorsteinn Már Baldvinsson said he was “satisfied” with the results.
“When all other leniency resolutions are rejected, we are forced to take legal action to protect our trademarks,” he said in a statement. “The ruling clearly distinguishes between legal expression of art and abuse of registered trademarks. For academic institutions, this judgment must be a serious consideration that makes obvious trademarks infringe upon their blessings under the guise of artistic expression.”
Baldvinsson resigned as CEO in May, replacing his son Baldvin.
