Artists Say Anthropologie Swiped Their Work

BROOKLYN (CN) - Authors of a limited-edition hand-printed art book say Anthropologie and its corporate parent, Urban Outfitters, surreptitiously photographed their work at the New York Artist Book Fair, then used their design on a rug. Purgatory Pie Press sued Anthropologie, a catalog merchant, in Federal Court.

Purgatory Pie and three authors say Urban Outfitter employees "surreptitiously (took) pictures of plaintiff's 'Fibonacci Flower' work using small cameras and mobile telephone cameras," during the Oct. 24, 2008, New York Artist Book Fair. They say the design turned up on Anthropologie's "Colossal Bloom Rug."

Co-plaintiffs Susan Happersett, Esther K. Smith and Dikko Faust call it "a classic case of copyright infringement." They are represented by Frank Martinez.

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