Charity may use founder’s image
The photographer behind the iconic portrait of comedian and Restos du Coeur founder Coluche settles case with charity
THE CHARITY Restos du Cœur may continue to use the iconic picture of its founder, the comedian Coluche, after an agreement with the photographer who took it.
Gaston Bergeret had taken the charity, which provides food to the poor and homeless over the winter, to court, demanding that they stop exploiting the image.
The case meant that the charity had to withdraw the 2,040 images from its centres across France, but the agreement means they can now be restored.
Mr Bergeret had claimed that his rights as the author of the photo were being abused, through “certain inappropriate uses, most particularly when the original image was transformed by the Restos du Coeur and its partners”.
He had brought the action after modifications were made to the colours and cropping of the photo and it was printed on t-shirts.
Following the deal Mr Bergeret has dismissed any claim to compensation and reaffirmed his commitment to the deal struck in 1986 allowing the charity to use the image for free.
The charity has agreed not to modify the portrait of Coluche.
Last year the Restos du Coeur served 130 million meals to 960,000 people.
