Singer and actor Yang Dong-geun has been sued for using a portrait of himself on his album jacket without getting approval from the artist who painted it. The painter, Bae Hee-gwon, known professionally as Sion Khan, filed the lawsuit Tuesday against Yang for copyright violation. Yang used a croquis portrait of himself, which Bae gave him as a present, for the jacket of his third album released in 2006. Yang, 29, is currently serving in the army in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. Bae, after meeting Yang at a theater in Daehangno in central Seoul in spring 2006, drew two sketch portraits of Yang and gave one of them to him as a present. "Yang used it without seeking approval from me. Yang has the ownership of it but I have the copyright, so Yang's using it was definitely in violation of copyright law," Bae said in the written accusation. The painter, who frequently works overseas, learned of the use in July and claimed he had never heard from either Yang or his agency. "I'm indignant as the portrait, which I gave him without any cost or conditions, was used as promotional material to sell his album. Copyright is like a soul to artists, and I hope this case will show it to the people," Bae said. Bae also sued G's Us & Company, an entertainment agency to which Yang belonged at that time. Yang's current agency, NH Media, said it is trying to confirm the allegation but having difficulty in contacting Yang. Bae is famous for his claim of drawing the faces of one million people. source: seoulfull credit: Korea Times
