by Nick Briz

Last month I wrote an article regarding SAIC Alum Jeff Koons threatening to go after Park Life, a small San Francisco store, for copyright infringement. The item in question was a pair of bookends in the shape of balloon dogs. Koons, who has built his entire practice (and fortune) on appropriation, didin’t take too kindly to this, claiming that the balloon dog shape, after having been appropriated into a steel sculpture, belonged to him. As absurd as it sounds, this wouldn’t be the first time a giant like Koons takes out the little guy through litigation.

Fortunately, this story has a just ending. Koons and his lawyers have backed off. Park Life, deciding they weren’t going to nervously wait around to see if Koons would take legal action, turn the tables and sued Koons, “asking the court to declare that Park Life wasn’t infringing on Mr. Koons’s [intellectual property] rights.” Koons’ lawyers decided not to put up a fight, especially after all the humiliation Koons received via disgruntled internet bloggers. They said so long as Park Life doesn’t try to attach Koons’ name the product they wouldn’t take legal action. This shouldn’t be a problem considering they hadn’t done so and were never planning on it. Looks like David beat Goliath and his deep pockets.

Link to Park Life’s statement.