There has been a lot said on whether Banksy allows his images etc to be used or if he cares.

So I thought I would put it to the test using points from the discussions on here.

So I wrote to Pest control and asked them could I use the images and create prints

Below is my email to them and below that is there email in response. So I think it's pretty conclusive what he or Pest Controls response is when asked. So think the promotion of these copies should be banned on here.

On 25 Nov 2013, at 22:08, J H<55324> wrote:


Hi I am based in China and am in the process of setting up a small gallery.

I have been told that the Banksy images are not copyright protected but wanted to ask anyway.

I would like to use the flower thrower from Lita as part of my gallery logo.

I would also like to reproduce some of the Banksy prints and sell them not at a high price may be about 50$US because people in China cannot buy Banksy prints as they are too expensive in the international market. I will only sell locally and will put on the back that they are not an official Banksy. Will also only sell in China not internationally or eBay.

Hope this is ok. Really love Banksy. He is now very interesting in China. Let us know if he will come here. We can make som arrangements because he cannot just paint anywhere in China. Not like U K or America

Best


Hi ,

The information you have been given is incorrect. Banksy's images are copyrighted and his intellectual property. Images are not licensed for logos nor commercial products/ merchandise of any sort. We will not give permission for Banksy's images to be used in the way you describe.

Good luck with the gallery,

Customer Services PCO
customerservices@pestcontroloffice.com

So there, WCP fake Banksy prints are just that, and as such should not be promoted on this board.

LOL, nice one!

I know for a fact Banksy trademarked his name in the US. So the idea that he doesn't care about copyright or protecting 'the brand' is not accurate.

I found it funny he put the 'R' registered mark on his print your own tshirt. Although I have a feeling he misused his own trademark, as it was for his name and the I balloon NY, did not say Banksy I am pretty sure he did not TM that slogan.

So not oy does he care about protecting, like many brands he also is pushing the limit as to what is covered under his mark.

Just because they haven't given permission doesn't mean a thing, it just means they don't care. They can't stop it without a cease and decist letter from a solicitor and let's face it that's not gonna happen. Someone is making copy prints and there's nothing you can do... Get over it. It clearly doesn't affect the market value of genuine stuff.

you are zero correct.
I do think it means 'a thing', on this forum.  This is a place that censors curse words in posts, motherfucker!!

I think it does affect the value specially of unsigned prints.
Every time I see an unsigned print now I think WCP. (you can't see the stamp on the back once it is framed)
And I'm sure many people that would have bought an 1k pound unsigned print just got a fake one.

So in a twisted way do you think that it's helped in making people more aware of fake prints?

Be interesting to know what pow would say if you asked them if Banksy actually signed every single print of every edition himself?

Like being mugged reminds you you're walking in a dangerous area?

I'm not sure how you got from "Banksy's images are copyrighted and his intellectual property. Images are not licensed for logos nor commercial products/ merchandise of any sort..." to "...it just means they don't care."

Those two statements are mutually exclusive.

On his old site, Banksy also had a gallery of high-res images for people to download and print themselves. The only caveat was that you could not sell those images. So it's pretty conclusive that Banksy doesn't want people printing and selling his images.

The only problem for Banksy is he can't enforce his copyrights and remain anonymous. To enforce his copyrights, he would have to prove that he is the owner of his intellectual property. That means proving his identity.

For Pest Control to enforce his copyrights, they would have to prove they have the legal authority to represent Bansky, which would also require him to prove his identity.

If you were defending WCP prints based on your assumption that Banksy doesn't care, you might want to rethink that. If you're defending them because you don't respect intellectual property and don't think it's unethical to steal that property, that's entirely different.

Im confused, why did you make up a fake story and contact pest control with it? Why not just say this is whats happening and see what they do about, well done for wasting their time and which gallery used liita as part of their "logo"

You know what fair enough, everyones entitled to their opinion, just to be clear I was simply making a case of his work being more in the public eye, not the rights and wrongs, I still don't think its doing Banksy or his originals any harm but each to their own

Maybe I used the don't care comment a little inaccurately, I think if they really cared or thought it was doing brand Banksy any damage then they would take legal action... Which they won't do. So my point is if they're not that arsed about it why should anybody on here get out their pram. Just wondering if anyone on here that's appears to be so annoyed with non sanctioned Banksy images goes into those cheap stores selling canvass and starts protesting?

Not promoting them but just can't see the fuss but would agree with the earlier comment about blind stamp them to help stop naive people getting caught out but to be honest if you're parting with all that money at least take the thing out if the frame to check.

Iamzero it's about fakes being promoted on this forum not whether they exist or don't exist in markets and on eBay etc. that's Banksy/Pest Controls problem