DESIGN DISPATCH

A Landmark Copyright Case Against AI Image Generators Proceeds, and Other News

Our daily look at the world through the lens of design.

Image via Danielle Baskin.

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A judge allows an artist group’s copyright case against AI image generators to proceed.

U.S. district judge William Orrick ruled that Stability AI, Midjourney, DeviantArt, and Runway AI violated artists’ rights by storing their works in AI image generation systems. The ruling allows a landmark copyright infringement case brought by Sarah Andersen, Kelly McKernan, and Karla Ortiz to proceed in the court system.

The executive director of the Bronx Museum leaves to head up MFA St. Petersburg.

Klaudio Rodriguez, executive director of the Bronx Museum of the Arts, is leaving his New York post to lead the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida. Rodriguez’s departure comes amid the Bronx Museum’s $33 million expansion and renovation initiative. The museum will now be led by interim directors Shirley Solomon and Yvonne Garcia as they search for his replacement, with the renovation expected to be completed by 2026.

The Rothko Chapel. Image courtesy Architecture Research Office

Vandals have defaced Laika’s anti-racist mural of Italian Olympian Paola Egonu.

A mural honoring Italian Olympic volleyball champion Paola Egonu was defaced with racist graffiti just a day after it was unveiled in Rome. The artwork, created by street artist Laika to celebrate Egonu’s contribution to Italy’s historic gold medal win in the Paris Olympics, had its anti-racist message erased and Egonu’s skin spray-painted pink.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister wants the country to prioritize its people over skyscrapers.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the country’s government will no longer prioritize building skyscrapers, and will instead focus on projects that directly benefit the public. While the private sector can continue constructing tall buildings, the government will allocate resources to initiatives like affordable housing and community infrastructure.

Damage from Hurricane Beryl forces Houston’s Rothko Chapel to close indefinitely.

Hurricane Beryl wrought significant damage to Houston’s non-denominational Rothko Chapel, forcing its indefinite closure while the extent of the damage and repair costs are assessed. The storm caused leaks that damaged the roof, walls, and three of Mark Rothko’s murals within the chapel. Conservation efforts led by Whitten & Proctor Fine Art Conservation will focus on restoring the building and artworks.

Chucky Sleaze. Image courtesy of Charlotte Chauvin

Today’s attractive distractions:

Demure divas” are trending on TikTok, at Chili’s and on garbage day.

Ralph Lauren’s erstwhile paint line walked so Joanna Gaines’ could run.

Chucky Sleaze’s clown cult gets Brooklynites down to clown. 

AI immortality is the latest “digital ghost” to exorcize from our online lives.  

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