Court orders artist and gallery to pay Coop 750,000 kroner for trademark infringement

A Danish court has ruled that artist Art Party and Artpusher Gallery must jointly pay 750,000 kroner in compensation to Coop for violating the retailer’s trademark rights by using its Irma brand imagery in their work, public broadcaster DR reports.

The Eastern High Court on Thursday upheld a February 2025 Maritime and Commercial Court decision that the works infringed Coop’s intellectual property. The artist, previously known as Love Party, and the gallery were each fined 15,000 kroner.

Coop initially collaborated with the artist in 2022 after discovering the works, but the relationship soured in early 2023 when Coop announced plans to close all Irma stores. The artist then produced posters featuring the Irma character with slogans like “Fuck Coop,” depicted with a cigarette, beer, rainbow dress, and military uniform.

The court acknowledged the works were sufficiently transformed to qualify for their own copyright protection but ruled this did not permit unrestricted use of Coop’s trademarks. It found the art had significant commercial intent and risked implying the artist and gallery had taken over Coop’s figurative and word marks.

Artpusher Gallery and Art Party were also ordered to pay 150,000 kroner in legal costs.