Obama Leaves Times Square

Filed Under: Fashion Smashion Barack Obama Ad Campaigns

That didn't take long.

After failing to get permission from the White House to use Barack Obama's picture in their ads, Weatherproof will be taking down their billboard featuring the Commander In Chief that sits above the busy streets of Times Square.

Weatherproof still maintains that all they did was "saw a picture of President Obama visiting the Great Wall of China and we said, ‘Boy that looks like our coat'" and used it, First Amendment experts says it's a tough idea to defend.

Intellectual property lawyer Barbara Solomon chimed in on CNN saying "This is not an issue of expression. This is a pure commercial appropriation. This is an advertisement and nothing but an ad. It is a violation of Mr. Obama’s right of publicity, his right to control his appearance and his likeness."

It still seems harmless, but we get it.

Bet you they'll ask next time.

[Image via AP Images.]

Posted: January 11, 2010 at 2:00 pm