AI startup Artisan reaches deal with 'This is fine' meme artist KC Green

AI startup Artisan has reportedly reached an agreement with artist KC Green after using his iconic 'This is fine' meme in its advertising without permission. The company has since taken down the ads featuring Green's well-known artwork.

AI startup Artisan has come to an agreement with webcomic artist KC Green following a dispute over the unauthorized use of Green's famous 'This is fine' meme in the company's advertising campaigns. The ads have since been removed.

The 'This is fine' image — depicting a cartoon dog calmly sitting in a burning room — originated from Green's webcomic 'Gunshow' and has become one of the internet's most widely recognized memes, often used to satirize situations where people ignore obvious problems. Artisan had used the image in promotional materials without obtaining the creator's consent.

The dispute highlights a growing tension between AI companies and original content creators over intellectual property rights. Artists and illustrators have increasingly raised concerns about their work being used commercially without compensation or credit, particularly by tech startups seeking culturally resonant imagery to market their products.

While the specific terms of the agreement between Green and Artisan have not been publicly disclosed, the removal of the offending advertisements suggests the matter has been resolved. The case serves as a reminder that even widely shared internet memes retain copyright protections, and their commercial use can carry legal consequences.