Montreal, Canada – A group of parents from Westwood Junior High School in Saint-Lazare, Quebec, have filed a lawsuit against an art teacher and the Lester B. Pearson School Board for alleged copyright infringement. The lawsuit comes after students discovered their classroom artwork being sold on the teacher’s personal website. The parents are seeking $1.575 million in damages and punitive damages, with each plaintiff asking for $155,000.
The incident has had a significant impact on the students involved, with one parent stating that her daughter no longer wants to pursue a career in art because of what happened. The parents argue that the requested amount reflects the extent of intellectual property infringement. They claim that there were 31 pieces of plagiarized artwork per student, leading to the substantial damages being sought.
According to the lawsuit, the art teacher, Mario Perron, assigned his students a project in January called “Creepy Portrait,” where they were asked to draw a portrait of a classmate or themselves inspired by the style of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The students were surprised to find their artwork for sale on Perron’s website in February. They found their “Creepy Portraits” available as prints, on coffee mugs, T-shirts, and cellphone cases, with some items listed for as much as $174.
The parents feel betrayed by the teacher, who they trusted to teach their children. They are also requesting a written apology from Perron, the removal of the students’ artwork from all websites, and a report of any sales made in connection with the plagiarized works. Prior to filing the lawsuit, the parents sent a demand letter to the school board, but it went unanswered.
The Lester B. Pearson School Board has not provided any comment on the ongoing investigation or the lawsuit. The school board previously stated it is taking the allegations seriously and is conducting an internal investigation. The teacher and the school board have two weeks to respond to the lawsuit.
This case highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property and the impact that copyright infringement can have on artists, even young students. It also raises questions about the responsibility of educators in fostering a safe and respectful learning environment.