Venice, CA – Sharp Electronics wanted to add some artistic appeal and creative credibility to its line of flat screen televisions. Instead of hiring an artist to create for it an original work, or licensing an existing work, Sharp simply stole the artwork of Madsteez, a well known Southern California creative. Not content to lift only his art, Sharp also included a picture of Madsteez himself in Sharp’s advertising and merchandise displays. Madsteez’s complaint alleges copyright infringement, misappropriation of likeness, violation of the Visual Artists Rights Act, and related claims. The case is currently pending in Orange County.