Global Multi-Billion Dollar Company vs Artist - Freedom of Speech
Global Multi-Billion Dollar Company vs Artist - Freedom of Speech
Latest: June 11, 2023
Stand Up for Freedom of Expression: Crowdfunding Campaign is Live
Dear Friends, Supporters, and Advocates of Artistic Freedom,
I am currently in a pivotal legal battle against the multinational fishing corporation, Samherji. They have targeted me because of my creat…
Read moreOn the 11th of May I opened a website under the domain samherji.co.uk as part of an art/activism installation on the back of one of WikiLeaks releases in 2019, the Fishrot Files. It exposed alleged wrongdoing by an international fishing/food processing company, Samherji, based in Iceland but with a foothold in a dozen countries (total turnover close to $billion). The document release was in collaboration with several media partners, including Al-Jazeera Investigate, which exposed corrupt practices in Namibia, leading to criminal investigations in several countries. Two former government ministers in Namibia are imprisoned there and a massive investigation is in its final stages in Iceland against the leadership of this company.
The artwork I created is called “We're Sorry”, a concept and performance artwork that includes an installation in the Reykjavik Art Museum. The UK domain simulated the official website of the company Samherji, except it had a mea culpa for the company's wrongdoing in the impoverished African country, apologizing and promising restitution.
The company had to issue a press release claiming in essence they were not sorry. Now they have filed a case in the High Court in London against me and used intellectual property laws to obtain an interim injunction.
Who am I? - My name is Odee and I'm an Icelandic artist and cultural activist.
Summary - Samherji, the multi-billion dollar company has filed a case arguing copyright, trademark, and passing off violations. By doing so they have managed to force, in effect, a temporary censorship against the artwork (taking down the website and giving them the domain). I feel that my artwork should be protected by my right to freedom of expression and fair dealing.
Call to action - I am trying to raise £50,000 to go towards legal representation, in order to fight the interim injunction which I believe was unfairly obtained without me being present.
What are we trying to achieve? - This is a "David vs Goliath" scenario. The Goliath here is the multi-billion dollar company Samherji which has been accused of multiple offenses in Namibia including corruption, bribery, and neocolonialism. I believe their actions have undermined Namibia's governance and deprived the country of vital revenues for health and education.
Against me, an artist taking part in public discussion and critiquing the way Namibia has been treated in all this. A heartfelt apology from me, for Iceland... has now been partially and forcefully censored.
I am trying to fight the interim injunction and protect my freedom of expression against this Goliath which has unlimited resources.
What is the next step in the case? - We will fight the interim injunction.
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Oddur Eysteinn Friðriksson (ODEE)
June 11, 2023
Stand Up for Freedom of Expression: Crowdfunding Campaign is Live
Dear Friends, Supporters, and Advocates of Artistic Freedom,
I am currently in a pivotal legal battle against the multinational fishing corporation, Samherji. They have targeted me because of my creative expression of dissent through an artistic installation titled "We're Sorry", inspired by the notorious 'Fishrot Files' which WikiLeaks released in 2019 .
This corporation has filed a case in the High Court in London, citing copyright, trademark, and passing off violations. I firmly believe this lawsuit is an unfair attempt to suppress my freedom of expression and my endeavors to spotlight corporate responsibility.
I launched this crowdfunding campaign to rally your support. I have set an initial target of $25,000 to fight against this interim injunction. These funds will directly contribute to legal defense costs and ensure that our voice—your voice—will not be silenced by corporate interests.
Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to justice. Your contribution is not merely a donation—it is a powerful statement that artistic freedom, freedom of speech, and corporate accountability matter. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this campaign with your networks. The more people who know about our cause, the stronger we stand.
Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can show the world that artistic freedom and corporate responsibility are worth fighting for.
Thank you for your support, and trust me I won't stop fighting!
With gratitude,
P.S. I promise to keep you updated about the campaign's progress and the developments in our case. Thank you for standing with me.
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