KC Green Settles Dispute With AI Startup Over ‘This is fine’

Artist KC Green, the creator behind the viral “This is fine” meme, has officially resolved his copyright dispute with the AI startup Artisan. The conflict began earlier this month when the company featured an unauthorized modification of Green’s iconic character in its promotional materials.

The controversy centered on advertisements for Artisan’s AI assistant, Ava, which appeared on public transit systems in New York and San Francisco. These ads depicted the well-known dog surrounded by flames, replacing the original catchphrase with the slogan, “My pipeline is on fire,” while encouraging viewers to “Hire Ava the AI BDR.”

The Resolution Process

Following the public exposure of the ads, Green took to social media to voice his frustration, describing the incident as an example of his work being “stolen like AI steals.” He had publicly encouraged followers to vandalize the displays and expressed his exhaustion at the prospect of navigating the American legal system rather than focusing on his creative work.

The dispute concluded following communication between the two parties. Key terms of the settlement include:

• Artisan has removed all advertisements featuring the character from New York and San Francisco.
• Green has retracted his initial social media post regarding the incident.
• Both parties reached a mutual agreement quickly after the startup expressed its stated respect for the artist’s work.

Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, founder and CEO of Artisan, confirmed earlier this week that a resolution had been reached. Green verified the settlement, noting that the matter was resolved without the need for prolonged litigation.