Artist Waited 55 Years to Claim Compensation for Atatürk Portrait - Too Late!

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 1 December 2024)

          Better late than never...but better never late.

Artist Etem Çalışkan first published his pencil-drawn portrait and 

signature of Atatürk on 10 November 1969.  Since then the work

has been seen all over and some merchants have printed and sold

t-shirts, such as textile firm owner B.S.  This situation has now

prompted artist Çalişkan to demand compensation. 

When B.S. learned of Çalışkan's complaint he says that he stopped

producing the t-shirts.  However, Ankara public prosecutor Mehmet

Taştan ruled that since up to now Çalışkan had never complained

about others using his work, 55 years later he cannot demand

compensation from B.S. or anyone else.

So maybe they should be free...or two for the price of one...