Obama ‘HOPE’ poster artist pleads guilty in NYC


February 24, 2012 at 3:36p.m.

Obama ‘HOPE’ poster artist pleads guilty in NYC

NEW YORK (AP) — The creator of the Barack Obama “HOPE” poster, made popular on the campaign trail four years ago, has pleaded guilty to criminal contempt.

Shepard Fairey entered the plea today in New York City.

The criminal case originated after the artist acknowledged he had fabricated information in a lawsuit he brought against The Associated Press in 2009.

The lawsuit sought a court declaration that he did not violate AP’s copyrights when he made the Obama image. The AP countersued, saying the uncredited, uncompensated use of its picture violated copyright laws.

That case was settled last year.