The Financial and Economic Affairs Prosecution in the Fifth Settlement in New Cairo has accused graphic designer Ghada Whali of plagiarizing Russian artist Georgy Kurasov, using his artwork in the murals of the Girls College Metro Station, as well as in an advertising campaign for a carbonated water company.
Waly’s first trial session is scheduled to take place before the Economic Misdemeanor Court on January 8.
The prosecution stated, during the case’s referral order, that the defendant infringed on intellectual property rights and stole ideas from the Russian artist’s paintings without consulting him or obtaining his approval.
In response, Whali said that: “These allegations (of theft) have no basis in truth and are completely false, and that my own designs have no connection to his drawings.”
The referral decision comes months after Kurasov submitted a series of complaints to the Public Prosecution, accusing the graphic designer of plagiarism.
The Attorney General Mohamed Shawqi decided to assign the Economic Affairs and Money Laundering Prosecution to investigate these complaints.
Whali said in press statements that while her work at the Cairo metro station may resemble the Russian artist’s paintings, she claimed the reason was because they both drew from the same source of ancient Pharaonic art.
