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# This Richard Prince–Inspired T-Shirt Hates Copyright
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/this-richard-prince-inspired-t-shirt-hates-copyright/
- Published: 2014-09-18T16:19:05.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:16:36.000Z
- Description: Nothing quite says "fuck you" to copyright like a Mickey Mouse–meets–Richard Prince T-shirt.
- Author: Hrag Vartanian
- Tags: In Brief, Cariou v Prince, Eric Doeringer, Richard Prince, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:03 (2014, 2015, part 1)

![Nothing quite says copyright like this (via Eric Doeringer's Etsy shop)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/09/prince-mickey-doeringer-tshirt-640.jpg)

Nothing quite says “copyright” like this. (via Eric Doeringer’s Etsy shop)

Nothing quite says “fuck you” to copyright like a [Mickey Mouse–meets–Richard Prince T-shirt](https://www.etsy.com/listing/203888469/canal-mouse-t-shirt?ref=hyperallergic.com). Whether at the gym, walking your ferret, sitting in first class on your way to Dubai, or ignoring that homeless person in front of Starbucks, this T-shirt is sure to defend you from any transgression or court case with a shield of irony.

Master-of-the-meta-copy artist Eric Doeringer was browsing the Gagosian shop on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue and spotted Richard Prince’s taunting [Canal Zone T-shirt on sale](http://www.gagosian.com/shop/richard-prince--canal-zone-t-shirt--ggicmsrprin14?ref=hyperallergic.com).

“While I generally support Prince’s right to use Cariou’s photos in his art, to use one on a T-shirt seemed more questionable,” he says.

The best part was his next logical thought: “Could you put a guitar and some painted ovals over anything and call it fair use?”

Good question. Is “put a guitar on it” the new “[put a bird on it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHmLljk2t8M&ref=hyperallergic.com)“?

And just in case you were wondering, [mugs](https://www.etsy.com/listing/203886175/canal-mouse-11-oz-ceramic-mug?ref=related-0) are also available.