Sony Paid for Fake PSP Graffiti?

Eli Gottlieb writes "It would appear that the Sony Corporation (known for their world-class rootkits) paid graffitists to paint pictures of children using their new PSPs on city walls. Sony "artists" (corporate operatives?) have even been caught in the act of painting advertising campaigns on public walls. Note that these are not paid-for billboards or advertising media, but illegal graffiti in the first place. Beyond that, Sony is attempting to co-opt the subculture and possibly even artistic integrity of real graffists to sell more PSPs! Luckily, people have started to paint back and show that corporate vandals are not welcome." Though it does appear the vandal depicted is copying the image off of a sheet of paper, there's no real proof of Sony's complicity. Take with a grain of salt.

Re:Sounds familiar...

[dago]

... and a MSN / Butterfly [itnews.com.au] one.

Like MSN in 2002

[NoSuchGuy]

For the launch [clickz.com] of MSN 8 there were the MSN butterflies everywhere. Here are some pics. [altterrain.com]

Apprentice

[Taulin]

There was also an episode of The Apprentice, where Sony wanted the team to paint a street graffiti picture on the side of the building advertising GT4. I guess they just took this to the next step.

Re:Sounds familiar...

[EnronHaliburton2004]

Some of those IBM/Linux sprays are still there, 4.5 years, 300,000 pedestrians and 150 rainstorms later.

I'm so glad it was "biodegradable chalk".

Correct terms

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not graffists or graffistis, it's GRAFFITI ARTISTS or graf artists

and tons of graf is done on completely legal surfaces. I think people are getting pissed and always do when corporations use invasive advertising. Graffiti artists are trying to create art and a statement against corporations, and when they turn around and use it against them it's like a slap in the face. There is a code and many kids (and I use kids b/c your 26 yr old graf artist isn't doing it) don't follow it.. don't paint on private property or federal property, don't paint over the numbers on trains, etc. what's the harm of painting underneath a bridge, or on a train? It makes boring urban "design" loook better.

Re:Double standards

[scheme]

Reading the CNN story about the IBM graffitis that's also linked at the top of this thread, the IBM graffitis were really inconspicious, and sprayed on the sidewalks which certainly aren't as critical as building walls. Most importantly though, they were made from chalk: "It washes right off, so it will be removed the next time it rains." Total non-issue.

I still see some of the IBM linux graffiti here in Chicago. The rain and snow that it's experienced in the last 4 years doesn't seem to have washed it off.