Lithuanian-born artist Ernest Zacharevic, a long-term resident of Malaysia, has initiated legal proceedings against budget carrier AirAsia and its parent company Capital A Berhad for alleged copyright infringement. The dispute centers on the unauthorized reproduction of his iconic 2012 street mural “Kids on Bicycle” on an aircraft livery in late 2024.
Zacharevic, renowned for his transformative public artworks in Penang, discovered the infringement in October 2024 when he observed an AirAsia jet featuring artwork strikingly similar to his celebrated mural. The piece, originally created for a local festival, depicts two laughing children on an actual bicycle incorporated into the painting and has become a major tourist attraction in George Town’s heritage district.
The artist immediately raised concerns through social media channels, tagging the airline and demanding discussions regarding the artwork’s commercial use. Following his public outcry, AirAsia removed the contested livery but subsequent negotiations failed to yield a settlement agreement.
Court documents reveal this incident represents not the first alleged infringement by the airline. Zacharevic claims previous unauthorized use of his artwork on food delivery bags and references past discussions in 2017 regarding potential commissioned work for aircraft liveries and office murals. These negotiations allegedly made the airline fully aware of his professional rates and copyright protections.
The lawsuit contends that AirAsia “wilfully infringed the plaintiff’s copyright and moral rights” by reproducing his signature work without consent or licensing arrangements. Zacharevic emphasizes that his creation represents years of professional training and artistic labor rather than merely cultural or geographical references.
As Asia’s largest low-cost carrier operating over 200 aircraft to more than 100 destinations, AirAsia’s brand visibility amplifies the significance of this copyright dispute. The airline recently announced plans to resume London flights via Bahrain after a decade-long absence from the British market.
Zacharevic has left compensation determination to the courts while maintaining his position that the artwork’s distinct artistic value deserves proper recognition and protection under intellectual property law.