This Kaws painting apparently sold for $14.7m. It’s a ‘recreation’ of a ‘recreation’. He replaced big eyes with ‘X’s’ on a picture that Matt Groening recreated of The Simpsons as The Beatles. Is Matt

This Kaws painting apparently sold for $14.7m. It’s a ‘recreation’ of a ‘recreation’. He replaced big eyes with ‘X’s’ on a picture that Matt Groening recreated of The Simpsons as The Beatles. Is Matt Groening a copycat? Is Kaws a ‘copycat’? Or is he more a copycat *of a copycat? 
 
Nigo built a highly respected streetwear company off of the strength of his version of an Air Force 1, that he was originally charging $225 (when retail for AF1’s was $80). He replaced the swoosh with a shooting star. Is Nigo a ‘copycat’? 
 
Supreme, a multi-billion dollar company, sells out week after week doing little more than adding a COLOR and a logo to common household items. This trunk sold for more than $100k a few years ago. Are they copycats? 
 
Warren Lotas changed up the swoosh on a Jeff Staple design on a shoe that really only realistically exists in the mythical realm and is repackaging them for $300. Is Warren Lotas a copycat? What about Jeff Staple - is he a ‘sellout’ because he co-signed it? 
 
Just know - this is how the world works. Business, art, design, engineering, creativity, etc. It’s how it ALL works. The world is FILLED with these types of incongruities. IMO...at the genesis of every ‘successful’ business - there exists a very thin, blurred, grey line. This blurred line - this is what will make this guy even more successful than he already is.  
 
I would say...if you have strong feelings about the Warren Lotas x Jeff Staple Flying Rat Onion Sandal and you’re going from post to post commenting your emotional responses - ask yourself why…Is it because you genuinely think he’s just a copycat? Is it because you genuinely think the guy *only* cares about money? Is it because you have a vested (monetary) interest? Is it because you wish you did it first? Take that energy, blur the line and build your own successful business...
 
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