Artist: Sneaky shoe company stole tattoo

Published: July 22, 2007 at 7:34 PM

NEW YORK, July 22 (UPI) -- A Long Island, N.Y., tattoo artist is suing U.S. shoe company Converse in federal court, claiming the company stole his design.

Anthony Zambito says he saw an image he designed -- and tattooed on a customer more than four months earlier -- on Converse sneakers that sell for $60, The New York Post reported Sunday.

Zambito is suing the company and the New York shoe store Kinway Industries for copyright infringement and misappropriating his work. If the suit is successful, it will force the companies to reveal the number of shoes sold, the newspaper said.

The depiction of the Japanese war god Bishamonten was available on Zambito's Web site, zamtattoo.com, his attorney, Jeremy Richardson, told the Post. And that is where Converse said an intern found the image.

Once an artwork exists in a "tangible medium," in this case the back of customer Carlos Flynn, it is considered copyrighted, Richardson said.

The shoe company said it is reviewing the lawsuit.

© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
NFL: Tampa Bay 38, Green Bay 28 (8 min)
NFL: Indianapolis 20, Houston 17 (30 min)
NFL: New England 27, Miami 17 (46 min)
Medical marijuana debate increases (56 min)
Companies have cash but no confidence (59 min)
NFL: Jacksonville 24, Kansas City 21
NFL: Atlanta 31, Washington 17
fark
Remember that boy who fled chemotherapy due to his religious beliefs? He's now free of cancer. Thank...
Put down the beer and step away from the stove
Today's "Man steals car to get to his arraignment on car theft charges. " brought to you by California...
Man steals 72 cans of Red Bull, for that "running away from the cops" speed
"Snood" to be hot new fashion accesory this Christmas. The skort called; said it was thankful that...
Old wives' tale: "Milk makes mucus." Science says: "Snot true"