Suit Alleges Illegal Use of ‘Charging Bull’ Image

The artist who created Wall Street’s famed “Charging Bull” statue has filed a copyright suit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., North Fork Bancorp and others over their use of images of the bull.

New York artist Arturo Di Modica filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in New York against Wal-Mart, North Fork and 10 other businesses, saying they were in violation of his copyright by using the bull’s image in advertising or by selling photographs or copies of it.

The 7,000-pound statue, which was briefly placed in front of the New York Stock Exchange in 1989, is on display in lower Manhattan and is a popular stop for tourists.

According to the lawsuit, Di Modica registered a copyright on the bull in 1998.

In his lawsuit, Di Modica alleges that North Fork is using images of the statute in its national television advertising campaign without his permission.

He claims that Wal-Mart is selling unauthorized images of the bull in photographs and lithographs.

The artist also sued several websites, saying they were selling copies of the bull without permission.

Neither North Fork nor Wal-Mart commented on the lawsuit.