KC Green, creator of the popular "This is fine" meme, has reached an agreement with startup Artisan over the use of his artwork. The dispute arose when Artisan's AI assistant Ava was promoted on bus and subway ads featuring a modified version of Green's recognizable dog in flames. Instead of saying "This is fine," the ad declared "My pipeline is on fire." Green had criticized Artisan for misusing his work, calling it "stolen like AI steals" and urging fans to vandalize the ads.
Artisan founder Jaspar Carmichael-Jack said the two sides had come to an agreement, with Artisan taking down the ads in New York and San Francisco that used Green's character. In return, Green took down his initial post criticizing the startup. Details of the settlement were not disclosed, but both parties seem to have reached a resolution.
Green was reportedly frustrated about having to deal with the dispute, saying he'd rather be working on his comics than navigating the issue through the American court system. Artisan, meanwhile, expressed respect for Green's work and acknowledged that it had misused his art without permission.
The incident highlights the challenges of protecting intellectual property in the age of AI and social media, where artistic references are often reinterpreted or reused without proper clearance.
