‘Fearless Girl’s Parents Have Finally Stopped Fighting In Court

Photo 121959868 © Marcos Souza | Dreamstime.com

The ongoing saga of the Fearless Girl statue has reached a new chapter with a settlement agreement between sculptor Kristen Visbal and State Street Global Advisors. Signed after mediation earlier this month, the deal resolves the lawsuit initiated by State Street in February 2019.

Standing tall at roughly 50 inches, Fearless Girl depicts a young girl with hands on hips, radiating confidence.

While Visbal created the bronzework, State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), too, was heavily involved in its creation, commissioning the artwork as part of a campaign promoting gender diversity in corporate leadership. It also chose the placement of the statue facing the iconic Charging Bull and unveiled it on International Women’s Day in 2017 to further drive home its message.

The financial giant later accused Visbal of undermining its own gender diversity stance by selling unauthorized replicas of the defiant young girl statue. State Street further claimed these replicas damaged its brand image, or “goodwill.”

State Street argued that the artist’s replicas diluted its intended message: responsible companies championing gender diversity and female leadership leading to stronger performance. Additionally, it claimed copyright and trademark infringement.

Photo 100971379 © Michaelfitzsimmons | Dreamstime.com

Visbal, on the other hand, countered that the original agreement with SSGA only pertained to the specific statue installed in the financial district and did not restrict her from creating and selling copies. She argued that she retained the rights to her own artwork and that the replicas would further promote the message of female empowerment, aligning with SSGA’s original campaign goals.

While the terms of the settlement remain confidential, the agreement averted a trial set for the following Monday. Both “parents,” however, have expressed pride in the Fearless Girl sparking dialogue and positive change over the past seven years.

Now situated near the New York Stock Exchange, the Fearless Girl continues to be a beacon of empowerment, reminding us of the ever-evolving conversation about women’s roles in the hectic world.

[via Reuters and Bloomberg, images via Dreamstime.com]