'This Is Fine' Creator Says AI Startup Stole His Meme for Subway Ads
KC Green, creator of the "This Is Fine" meme, did not consent to its use in an ad campaign by AI startup Artisan. The company used the meme—altered to promote its AI sales tool, Ava—in a New York subway ad without Green's permission. Green only learned of the ad after being tagged on social media and publicly expressed frustration, calling the use theft. Artisan claimed respect for Green and stated it was reaching out to him. The situation highlights a broader trend of companies and marketers using AI and digital tools to co-opt creators’ works without approval, resulting in increasing copyright and consent issues. Similar unauthorized uses of celebrity images and creators’ content have occurred, such as viral AI-generated deepfakes and YouTubers’ branding used in tools and ads. Green is considering legal action against Artisan, which has acknowledged controversy as a deliberate marketing tactic and now faces possible copyright consequences.
