Artist Ernest Zacharevic files suit against AirAsia for using his mural artwork without consent
Ernest Zacharevic’s ‘Children on Bicycle’ mural has been repeatedly used in AirAsia’s advertisements including for food delivery, hotel and flights. — Pictures courtesy of Ernest Zacharevic
Monday, 09 Feb 2026 2:24 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — Lithuanian-born artist Ernest Zacharevic has today filed a suit against AirAsia at the High Court here for alleged copyright infringement for using his artwork without permission.
In his lawsuit, he is seeking reliefs recognising his rights as an artist, an injunction against AirAsia from further unauthorised use of his famous Children on Bicycle artwork as well as damages.
He named AirAsia Berhad and Capital A Berhad as defendants.
His lawyer Joachim Francis Xavier confirmed the matter to reporters after the suit was filed earlier.
In a statement following the lawsuit filing, Zacharevic said the action arose from events between October and November 2024, when one of his most significant artworks was used on the exterior livery of an AirAsia aircraft as part of the airline’s corporate branding.
It was later removed after he publicly objected to its use.
He said the reproduction of his artwork was not an isolated incident, alleging a pattern of unauthorised use by the defendants and their affiliates in various promotional campaigns since 2016.
“This was done without my consent, authorisation, or any licensing arrangement.
“Over a number of years, AirAsia and its affiliated entities have repeatedly used my artworks in connection with its campaigns and products.
“These uses took place without my permission, without licensing arrangements, without payment of royalties or licence fees, and without crediting me as the artist,” he said.
Regarding the artwork, Zacharevic stated that he does not accept any characterisation of its use as merely a reference to cultural or geographical associations, emphasising that it is a distinct artistic creation.
Zacharevic’s iconic murals, painted as part of the art programmes of George Town Festival 2012, have since become landmarks in George Town and have remained popular tourist spots till today.
“It is not a natural or generic feature, but the result of many years of professional training, skill and labour,” he said.
If you put your paintings in many public places, millions of people have taken pictures of it and you charged them nothing....?
ReplyDeleteEg one kopitiam use your pictures as advertisement.
Why single out AA?
Because AA uses it for commercial purposes
DeleteWakakakaka… this kind of non filterable thinking of fart!
ReplyDeleteImbecile to the nth, indeed.
The strength of the case also depends on whether Ernest Zacharevic registered the work in Malaysia to assert his rights as the owner of the intellectual property.
ReplyDeleteEven though the Copyright Act provides general IP protection to all creative works , it makes a lot of difference in a Court Case whether it is a registered IP in Malaysia.
This is especially in this case where the mural sits in a public space (roadside wall) and the media (the wall) is someone else's private property.
Call to mind the graffiti works of one Banksy in UK.
ReplyDeleteSimilar nature & operation & no any commercial entities, worth their socks DARE to do a AA format.
What tells, mfer?
Banksy already sued and lost multiple court cases in UK for alleged infringement of his IP rights.
DeleteThere have been multiple cases of greeting cards, commercial advertisements that used "Banksy" paintings without permission.
There is no real person named "Banksy" ...he's some kind of anonymous artist, Copyright rights have to be registered and exercised in the actual name of an actual person.
The court rulings , to put it rudely is, "Who the Fuck is Banksy? ".
Then what about who is Ernest Zacharevic?
DeleteErnest Zacharevicnis a real person and he has the right to exercise his IP rights.
DeleteHis Court Case would be stronger if he had registered his works in Malaysia under his name with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia..not sure if he had.
In Banksy' s case, since 2014 he has registered his works throug a company Pest Control LLC , which becomes the IP owner.... but many of his old works ,.too bad , he has found it Very difficult to enforce copyright right due to the original anonymity.
Mfer, don't confused difficult to enforce copyright right due to the original anonymity with this case, & contemporary Bansky's case.
DeleteThe pink elephant IS copyright as defined!