Banksy trademark 'at risk' after street artist loses legal battle
Anonymous artist loses case against greeting card firm over use of Flower Thrower mural

The Guardian UK
Lanre Bakare Arts and culture correspondent
Thu 17 Sep 2020 10.21 BST
Last modified on Thu 17 Sep 2020 11.31 BST

Banksy’s trademark may be at risk after the street artist lost a case that an EU panel said was brought in bad faith and was undermined by a gift shop he set up in London last year.

Banksy lost the case against a greeting card company, Full Colour Black, which argued it should be able to use an image of the Flower Thrower stencil mural, which he painted in Jerusalem, because of the artist’s anonymity.

In 2014, Banksy’s representatives, Pest Control Office, successfully applied for an EU trademark of the Flower Thrower, but this week that was overturned after a two-year dispute.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) panel said it ruled against the artist because he could not be identified as the unquestionable owner of such works because his identity remained hidden.

“Banksy has chosen to remain anonymous and, for the most part, to paint graffiti on other people’s property without their permission, rather than to paint it on canvases or his own property,” the panel said.

Britain’s Oldest Example of Christian Graffiti Found Near Hadrian’s Wall

By Alex Fox
SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 11:45AM

Some 1,400 years ago, individuals living near Vindolanda, a Roman fort in northern England, inscribed a lead chalice with images of crosses, angels and other Christian symbols. Now, reports Dalya Alberge for the Guardian, archaeologists say that this vessel—unearthed during excavation of a ruined sixth-century church—represents the oldest known example of Christian graffiti ever found in Britain.

Recovered in 14 fragments, the chalice was once the size of a cereal bowl. Inscriptions adorn every inch of its surface, covering both its interior and exterior. Per a statement, symbols seen on the cup include a chi-rho (or monogram said to represent Jesus Christ), a happy bishop, ships, a congregation, a fish and a whale. Latin, Greek and potentially Ogam letters appear alongside the drawings.

Thanks to: Chris C., Josiah, XSacto, r/stencils, r/streetart, and @only_stencil_archive
Music: XTC, Pink Floyd, Bowie, Ozric Tentacles
Photo: @1goodhombre for the win!

>NEW< F CK (IT)

Two from protests in Portland, OR

One from Slovenia

JPS (UK)

In Media, Pete B.

A few in the Mission District

One on Valencia

One near the Bottom of the Hill

One on Market St.

fnnch goes surfin’

Thanks to: Josiah, @only_stencil_archive
Music: Dian, Phish, Euforquestra, Bombino
Photo: Steve McQueen mural on Fillmore St., SF by Luinova

>NEW< Roadsworth (Montreal)

>NEW< fiddlethief (SF)

In the Upper Haight, SF

On Fillmore St., SF

Just one on Valencia St., SF

Black Lives Matter on Mission St., SF

Thanks to: Aiden, Quinn, Arno and son, Brooklyn Street Art, and u/badwolf_tco
Music: Dinner and a Movie 17 (wined and dined in Hampton)
Photo: John Fekner cut outs from his "A Change" show (photos: Icy and Sot for Brooklyn Street Art)

Icy and Sot visit John Fekner’s “A Change” show in NYC, share with Brooklyn Street Art

Just one from Petaluma, CA

Just one in Lower Haight, SF

Just one in Western Addition, SF

Just one in Glen Park, SF

Just one from Almost Over Keep Smiling (NYC)

Just one in NYC

1970 Grateful Dead stencil in Wisconsin

Dark humor in Estonia

Just one from Portugal

Thanks to: r/stencils, r/streetart, @only_stencil_archive
Photo: Found after a nature bath at Bodega Bay

>NEW< Puerto Rico

>NEW< Sr.X (UK)

One from Ecto in Wash. state

Upper Haight, SF

One in the Financial District, SF

One from fnnch

More from X-Sacto

One in Northern California

Black Lives Matter in Oakland

One in Pittsburgh