An Example of Real World Plagiarism
This toy is manufactured by Humbrol.28
In this example, the sculptures shown are virtually identical. About the only differences an observer can see between the two is that British artist Damien Hirst's sculpture (right) is not made of plastic and it is much, much bigger. Hirst reproduced the colors and the shapes of the anatomical model exactly as they were on the toy.
Consequences
In 2000, Hirst donated part of his earnings from his 1996 sculpture "Hymn," after a British toy company threatened to sue him for copyright infringment. Essentially, Hirst was accused of plagiarizing the anatomical toy (left) when he created his sculpture, a sculpture that sold for £1 (approximately $1,894,400).29
"Hymn" on display at the Saatchi Museum, London. 30
Rather than go to court, Hirst paid an undisclosed sum to two children's charities, and made "a 'goodwill payment' to the original designer, Norman Emms." 31 Hirst has been accused of plagiarizing another artist's work recently, though the case has not gone to court. Once considered one of the most innovative artists in the world in the 1990s, critics are now wondering if Hirst's creative well has run dry.32
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