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August 29, 2005

Che Guevara's Family Threatens Lawsuits over Photo Use

Che-emblazened berets for sale in Havana

There's a Reuters story today about that famous photo of Argentine-Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara. A pop culture icon in its own right, the photo was taken in 1960 by Cuban fashion photographer Korda. He didn't published the photo, but gave away copies of it to an Italian publisher seven years later, who went on to print millions of posters upon Che's death.

Since then, the photo has become one of the world's most famous t-shirts. It's been lampooned in a New Yorker cartoon, depicting Che sporting a Bart Simpson t-shirt. Reporters Without Borders used it in campaigns protesting the treatment of journalists in Cuba. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen modeled underweared stamped with the famous pic.

The families of both Che and Korda are not amused. Over the last five years they've filed successful lawsuits to block the use of the photo in ways they feel run counter to the spirit of Che, and now they're planning to file more suits around the world.

I wonder, though, if they will attempt to curtail the sail of Che-ware in Cuba. When Susanne and I visited four years ago, Che souvenirs were everywhere. The crafts market in Old Havana was dominated by Che chic - berets, china plates, posters, postcards, medallions. I can understand Che's family been upset about liquor and lingerie companies using his image as part of their capitalist marketing campaigns. But do they feel the same way about the Cuban government using the image to collect US dollars from Che-crazy tourists?

Posted by acarvin at August 29, 2005 8:38 AM

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