Marcus Chen
Justin Barnes, a painter and artist who created custom designs for OCC motorcycles and merchandise, sued Orange County Choppers (OCC), Discovery Channel, and Activision for infringement and copyright violation. Barnes alleged that 18 original designs were copied and used without his authorization or compensation for merchandise tied to OCC and the American Chopper Show. Barnes claimed that OCC wanted him to work long hours for little to no pay and that he left OCC because the company did not accommodate his mother's cancer diagnosis. After leaving OCC, Barnes continued his career as a painter and was picked up by PPG Paints, which uses his artwork to showcase its paint products.
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What You'll Learn
- Justin Barnes sued OCC, Discovery Channel, and Activision over American Chopper designs
- Justin Barnes left OCC because of poor pay and treatment
- Justin Barnes' mother was suffering from cancer during his time at OCC
- Justin Barnes was replaced by a female painter who was later let go
- Justin Barnes started JB Grafix in 2000 and now works strictly with PPG Paints
Justin Barnes sued OCC, Discovery Channel, and Activision over American Chopper designs
Justin Barnes, a painter and graphic artist, sued Orange County Choppers (OCC), Discovery Channel, and Activision over American Chopper designs. Barnes alleged that 18 original designs were copied without his authorization and compensation. These designs were then used on merchandise tied to the business of OCC and the American Chopper show, including DVD covers, die-casts, mouse pads, lunch boxes, key chains, and other goods sold by OCC or third-party sellers.
Barnes, who owned JB Grafix, filed the lawsuit in May 2009, claiming that his artwork was reused without permission. He created custom designs for OCC motorcycles and merchandise, with themes such as fire, the New York Jets, and POW/MIA. Barnes was featured on Discovery Channel's American Chopper, which showcased several of his well-known designs, including The POW-MIA Bike, The Fire Bike, The I-Robot Bike, The Comanche, and The Snap-On Bike.
The lawsuit alleged infringement and copyright violation, seeking payment and damages. Barnes' attorney, Bruce Ewing, stated that Barnes filed the suit reluctantly after attempts to reach a settlement failed. In response, OCC's corporate attorney, Stephen Markovits, said he did not believe the suit had any merit.
The outcome of the lawsuit is unclear, but some sources predicted that OCC would settle before a trial. The American Chopper series concluded in December 2012, with the final episode airing on the Discovery Channel. The show centered on the father-and-son duo of Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr., who manufactured custom chopper-style motorcycles at OCC in Newburgh, New York.
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Justin Barnes left OCC because of poor pay and treatment
Justin Barnes, a talented and well-known painter, left Orange County Choppers OCC due to a combination of factors, including poor pay, unfair treatment, and a lack of understanding from the company. Justin was a painter for OCC and even appeared with them on television. However, he faced issues with OCC that ultimately led to his departure.
One of the main issues Justin experienced was inadequate pay. He claimed that OCC wanted him to work long hours for little or no pay. This issue was not unique to Justin, as other employees, including Dee, Vinnie, Cody, and Campo, also left OCC because of Paul Sr.'s reluctance to pay them fairly. They alleged that he expected them to work for free, exploiting their eagerness for exposure.
In addition to poor pay, Justin also faced unfair treatment and a lack of understanding from OCC. During this challenging time, his mother was suffering from cancer, and OCC showed little empathy or flexibility. They demanded that he work unreasonable hours despite his personal struggles. Furthermore, there was an incident involving a girl he had hired, who allegedly tried to go behind his back and get hired by OCC as their painter for the TV show. However, after completing the project, OCC did not hire her, and she returned to Justin, but he refused to take her back.
As a result of these issues, Justin left OCC and filed multiple lawsuits against the company, alleging copyright infringement and seeking fair compensation. He claimed that OCC, the Discovery Channel, and Activision violated his intellectual property rights by using his designs without authorization and compensation. Justin's lawsuits suggest that he stood up for his rights and sought recognition for his contributions.
Despite the challenges, Justin persevered and found success after leaving OCC. He was picked up by PPG Paints, which recognized his talent and utilized his artwork to showcase their paint products. He traveled the country, demonstrating his airbrushing techniques at expos and establishing himself as a sought-after artist.
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Justin Barnes' mother was suffering from cancer during his time at OCC
Justin Barnes, a painter artist who created many custom designs for OCC motorcycles and merchandise, sued Orange County Choppers (OCC), Discovery Channel, and Activision for infringement and copyright violation. He alleged that 18 original designs were copied and used on merchandise without his authorization or compensation. During his time at OCC, Justin Barnes' mother was suffering from cancer. Barnes stated that OCC wanted him to work long hours for little to no pay, showing little understanding of his mother's illness. He also mentioned that a girl he had hired tried to get hired by OCC behind his back, intending to replace him as the painter on TV. As a result of these issues, Justin left OCC, and his talent was picked up by PPG Paints, who now use his artwork to showcase their paint products.
Justin Barnes, also known as JB Grafix, is a self-taught painter and airbrush artist. He started his career by painting helmets for motocross riders and eventually founded JB Grafix in 2000. Barnes created numerous custom designs for OCC motorcycles, including The POW-MIA Bike, The Fire Bike, The I-Robot Bike, The Comanche, and The Snap-On Bike. His designs were also featured on merchandise such as DVD covers, die-casts, mouse pads, lunch boxes, and key chains sold by OCC and third-party companies.
The lawsuit filed by Justin Barnes against OCC and other entities highlights the complex nature of intellectual property rights and copyright ownership. It serves as a reminder for artists and creators to seek legal advice and clearly define the terms and conditions of their work to protect their interests.
While Justin Barnes moved on from OCC, his talent and artwork continue to be recognized and valued by companies like PPG Paints. His story also underscores the challenges and disputes that can arise in the creative industry, particularly when it comes to compensating artists fairly for their contributions.
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Justin Barnes was replaced by a female painter who was later let go
Justin Barnes was a painter for Orange County Choppers (OCC) and appeared with them on TV. He was self-taught and started painting at the age of 16. In 2009, Barnes filed a lawsuit against OCC, Discovery Channel, and Activision for copyright infringement and violation. He alleged that 18 of his original designs were copied and used on merchandise without his authorization or compensation.
Barnes claimed that OCC wanted him to work long hours for little to no pay, and they lacked understanding regarding his mother's cancer diagnosis. He was replaced by a female painter, who was reportedly hired by Barnes himself. However, OCC let her go, and she returned to Barnes for her old job, which he refused to give back to her.
After leaving OCC, Barnes continued his career as a painter. PPG Paints recognized his talent and began using his artwork to showcase their paint products. He traveled across the country, demonstrating his airbrushing techniques at expos. He also worked on projects for NASCAR and the Winter Olympics.
While the outcome of Barnes' lawsuit against OCC is unclear, his story highlights the complex dynamics between artists, their intellectual property rights, and the companies they work for.
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Justin Barnes started JB Grafix in 2000 and now works strictly with PPG Paints
Justin Barnes, a talented and well-known painter, started JB Grafix in 2000. He is self-taught and started by painting helmets for motocross riders at the age of 16. With the encouragement of a friend, he got an airbrush and started his journey towards becoming a renowned painter. Barnes was associated with Orange County Choppers (OCC) and even appeared with them on television. However, he sued OCC, Discovery Channel, and Activision over American Chopper designs, alleging infringement and copyright violation of his original designs.
Barnes claimed that 18 of his original designs were used without authorisation and compensation, appearing on merchandise such as DVD covers, die-casts, mouse pads, and key chains sold by OCC or third-party sellers. He left OCC due to unreasonable work expectations and a lack of understanding regarding his mother's illness. After his time at OCC, Barnes continued to pursue his passion for painting and was picked up by PPG Paints, who recognised his talent.
Today, Barnes strictly works with PPG Paints, constantly travelling across the country to showcase his airbrushing techniques at expos. He has a team to support his expanding business, including his girlfriend, Alea Lawson, who handles the business end, and artists to assist with specific types of artwork. Barnes remains passionate about his craft and is open to painting designs on various items, from bikes and helmets to snowboards. He has also been featured on Discovery Channel's "American Chopper", showcasing several of his well-known designs, including The POW-MIA Bike, The Fire Bike, and The I-Robot Bike.
While Barnes has faced legal challenges, he continues to focus on his artwork and expand his business, demonstrating his resilience and dedication to his craft.
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Frequently asked questions
Justin Barnes, a painter artist who created custom designs for OCC motorcycles and merchandise, filed a lawsuit against OCC, The Discovery Channel, and Activision for infringement and copyright violation. He alleged that 18 of his original designs were copied and used on merchandise without his authorization or compensation.
Justin Barnes stated that at the time he was taken off the job, his mother was suffering from cancer, and OCC wanted him to work long hours for little to no pay. He also claimed that a girl he had hired tried to go behind his back and get hired by OCC as their painter for the TV show.
After leaving OCC, Justin Barnes continued his career as a painter and artist. He worked with PPG Paints, which recognized his talent and used his artwork to showcase their paint products. He traveled across the country, demonstrating his airbrushing techniques at expos. He also worked on various projects, including painting graphics on NASCAR helmets and designing bobsleds for the Winter Olympics.
