Google pulls Miro tribute logo
Facing pressure from an advocacy group yesterday, Google acquiesced and pulled the Google logo stylized using artwork from surrealist painter Joan Miro. The search giant posted the logo as a tribute to the artist’s birthday–April 20, 1893–but apparently didn’t ask for permission to use the images’ likeness. The Artists Rights Society, the group represting the Miro family, said Google “violated the moral rights of the artist,” according to an article in the San Jose Mercury News.
Google used three paintings, “The Escape Ladder,” “Nocturne,” and “The Beautiful Bird Revealing the Unkown to a Pair of Lovers” to make up April 20th’s logo.
Google sent a written statement to the Mercury News, saying “From time to time we create special logos for people we admire.” John Paczkcowski from Good Morning Silicon Valley put it well:
“Seems a reasonable request. Perhaps Google felt the Miro estate would be pleased with a tribute that arguably raised the profile of the artist and educated the public in his work. Perhaps it felt that Miro’s family, of all people, would appreciate such a nod. That said, it still could have asked permission. Not to do so seems a bit arrogant, no?”
Here is more information on Miro.