Finnair removes painting on plane over plagiarism
Finnish airline Finnair to paint over 1 of its planes' design due to plagiarism fears
This is an undated handout picture made available by Finnair on Wednesday may 29, 2013 of a Finnair Airbus 330 with the "Metsanvaki" design painted on it's body. Finnair said Wednesday it will remove a Finnish artist's painting adorning one of its Airbus aircraft after the designer acknowledged she copied the theme of her work from a Ukrainian folk artist. (AP Photo/Finnair, Lehtikuva) FINLAND OUT
HELSINKI (AP) -- Finnair says it will remove a Finnish artist's painting adorning one of its Airbus aircraft after the designer acknowledged she copied the theme of her work from a Ukrainian folk artist.
Finnair spokeswoman Paivyt Tallqvist says the design will be painted over as soon as possible. The Airbus 330, used on routes to New York and Asia, was due to leave later Wednesday for Osaka, Japan.
The design, known as "Metsanvaki" (forest folk), was drawn by Kristina Isola in 2008 as a design for Marimekko, a Finland-based international textile and clothing design company.
Isola has apologized for her "indiscretion" in copying a work by Ukrainian Maria Primatshenko.
Tallqvist said Finnair will continue collaborating with Marimekko, which provides the national carrier with designs for textiles and other products.
