The recent legal battle initiated by 'Humans of Bombay' (HoB) against 'People of India' (PoI) has ignited a backlash on social media. Amid the unfolding controversy, 'Humans of New York' (HoNY) founder Brandon Stanton has stepped into the fray, issuing an official statement that has sparked intense discussions.
Stanton's statement, shared on his Instagram, laid bare his financial dealings with his own project, HoNY. He stated, "For the last thirteen years, I haven't received a penny for a single story told on Humans of New York, despite many millions offered. All my income has come from books of my work, speeches I have given, and Patreon".
While Stanton admitted that he may not possess expertise in copyright law, he was unreserved in expressing his views on the nature of art. "Beautiful art can make money, there is nothing wrong with that. But when art begins with a profit motive, it ceases to become art. And it becomes a product." This perspective resonated with many who criticized HoB for allegedly prioritizing financial gains over authentic storytelling.
However, Stanton clarified that he doesn't take issue with others using the 'Humans of' concept; his concern arises when it's exploited for personal profit at the expense of others. He also lauded 'Humans of Amsterdam' for exemplifying the genuine essence of an artist.
READ | After Humans Of New York's Tweet, Humans of Bombay Clarifies Copyright Lawsuit Against POI
Stanton's statement generated a wave of responses, particularly from the Indian audience, who contrasted his approach with that of Karishma Mehta's HoB. One Indian commenter expressed disappointment with HoB, stating, "I am an Indian and ashamed that Humans of Bombay has become a cheap rip-off that takes money to project people in a certain light." Another commenter stood in solidarity with Stanton, saying, "Like a lot of Indians in your comment section, I agree with you 100%. Thanks for doing what you do, and for taking a stand."
To provide context, HoB had accused PoI of replicating its content, including the logo, tagline, and story format, resulting in a legal battle filed in the Delhi High Court. The lawsuit sought damages and an injunction against PoI for the alleged use of HoB's content. Brandon Stanton, however, publicly criticized HoB for resorting to legal action and accused them of copying his own format. The dispute has drawn significant attention and discussions surrounding copyright and the ethics of content sharing in the digital age.