The UK High Court has rejected a final appeal by Icelandic artist Oddur Eysteinn Friðriksson, known as ODEE, to retain ownership of his conceptual artwork *We're Sorry* (2023), a fake website that mimicked Iceland's largest fishing company Samherji and apologized for its alleged role in the Fishrot corruption scandal. Judge Anthony Mann upheld a previous order requiring ODEE to surrender control of the domain, ruling that the site was not a parody and constituted an instrument of fraud, thus not protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act.
The ruling matters because it tests the legal boundaries of conceptual art and freedom of expression, particularly when art targets powerful corporations. ODEE plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the decision threatens the legitimacy of works by artists like Andy Warhol and Banksy. The case highlights tensions between corporate reputation management and artistic activism, especially in the context of the Fishrot scandal—a major corruption case involving alleged bribes to Namibian officials.