“No Pictures” means no pictures, and it especially means that you’re not allowed to pose as a photojournalist, take a bunch of snapshots at the World Erotic Art Museum and then post them up on your Flickr account—but it seems popular photo blogger Thomas Hawk did just that, and now the World Erotic Art Museum is suing him.
The story has two sides to it: Hawk insists that the museum’s no-pic policy was not clearly stated, and in no way did he use flash photography or reproduce his shots on a professional site. “I have not sold any images of that I took at the museum and I have not profited one cent on any the images that I posted on Flickr,” Hawk said.
But museum officials say that Hawk is liar, liar pants on fire. By exposing the museum’s artwork on a public site like Flickr, or “exposing [its] art work to young people,” as officials said, Hawk made himself look like he was representing the museum in an “unsavory” fashion.
Museum officials have also said the asking $2 million isn’t with the intent to profit off the lawsuit, just to make sure Hawk knows they mean business. A public apology and covering the costs of legal fees will end the case, they say. Hopefully it will end well for both parties—it seems like this is just a miscommunication between folks who both appreciate the erotic form.
The story has two sides to it: Hawk insists that the museum’s no-pic policy was not clearly stated, and in no way did he use flash photography or reproduce his shots on a professional site. “I have not sold any images of that I took at the museum and I have not profited one cent on any the images that I posted on Flickr,” Hawk said.
But museum officials say that Hawk is liar, liar pants on fire. By exposing the museum’s artwork on a public site like Flickr, or “exposing [its] art work to young people,” as officials said, Hawk made himself look like he was representing the museum in an “unsavory” fashion.
Museum officials have also said the asking $2 million isn’t with the intent to profit off the lawsuit, just to make sure Hawk knows they mean business. A public apology and covering the costs of legal fees will end the case, they say. Hopefully it will end well for both parties—it seems like this is just a miscommunication between folks who both appreciate the erotic form.
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