If you haven't heard Prince's lawyers sent a ceast & desist order to Troy Gua, the creator of LPP who has given so much joy for the last year! Here is what Troy said.....
Hello, Friends.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this - I have been
issued a cease & desist order from Prince’s attorneys. This means that the
Le Petit Prince project has reached its untimely end and must be removed from
the internet by Friday, November 16, 4pm PST. There are many points touched
upon in the order, and I will, of course, comply with their demands, whether I
agree with them as matters of artistic freedom or not. I simply do not wish to
fight with my hero, and it is terribly disheartening to think that he may hold
ill will towards me and this project. I wrote back to the attorneys and told
them I would indeed comply, but wanted to address some of the issues brought up
in their letter. I’d like to share these paragraphs with you, which contains
sentiments that I hold dear and true:
“Any products sold are returning no profit to me - they are
simply a meager means to fund and continue the LPP project, which is a work of
fine art. And this funding, I would argue, is anything but “ill-gotten gains”.
That term pains me, as I do not intend, nor have I ever intended to profit from
Prince without his consent. I have, in fact, refused countless pleas to
recreate the sculpture and make it available for sale because I felt that that
would indeed be attempting to profit illegally. The recreation of album art and
iconic imagery, on the other hand, I felt was within my creative rights as an
artist. This is artwork that I have made as a loving tribute to an artist that
has inspired me for decades, and has shaped the person I have become. And this
tribute has grown into something that I never foresaw nor intended - a joyful
and positive experience for many, many people around the world. It has, to my
utter amazement, brought so much happiness to so many, building a following and
a momentum that has demanded it endure and expand.
I have, actually, attempted through modest connections to
Mr. Nelson, to contact him to no avail. He is not an easy person to reach out
to. I, on the other hand, am very easy to engage, and was actually, perhaps
foolishly, hoping for contact from him regarding this project in a much more
congenial form. If I had any possible way of reaching Mr. Nelson to ask him his
thoughts on this matter or to propose a creative business venture, believe me,
I would have. I would love nothing more, and would relish the opportunity to do
so, still.”
The words “thank you” could never adequately qualify the
truly staggering gratitude I feel towards everyone who fueled the passion for
this project with their words of support and praise, with their love and
positivity, and with their all around good will. This project grew into what it
became because of you. Although I am saddened beyond words that it has reached
its end, and that it has ended this way, I am also deeply grateful and happy
beyond words that I’ve had this rare opportunity to make so many new friends,
to make so many people smile, and to make so many tiny sets of funky clothes.
I hope we can continue to be in touch in another corner of
this great big universe somewhere. And I hope you had fun. I know I did.
For LPP, Troy Gua signing off...
Don't let it end like this....Send Troy some love
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