Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist based in Penang, has filed a lawsuit against Malaysian budget airline AirAsia and its parent company, Capital A Berhad, alleging the unauthorised use of his artwork on one of the airline’s planes. The case centers on Zacharevic’s 2012 street mural, Kids on Bicycle, which he says was reproduced and displayed as part of an aircraft livery in late 2024 without his consent.
“This was done without my consent, authorisation, or licensing arrangement,” Zacharevic told the BBC, adding that the livery was removed after he publicly raised concerns about its use. He first noticed the plane bearing artwork resembling his mural in October 2024 and said the experience was “a little offensive.” Zacharevic shared a photograph of the aircraft on social media, tagging AirAsia and requesting a conversation regarding the use of his work.
Zacharevic has lived in Malaysia for more than a decade and is known for his roadside murals in Penang, particularly in the UNESCO heritage district of George Town. His mural Kids on Bicycle depicts two laughing children on a real bicycle, positioned to appear part of the painting, and has become a popular attraction for tourists visiting the city.
The artist claims this is not the first instance of AirAsia using his work. He alleges the airline previously used his designs on a delivery bag for its food services arm. Court documents state that Zacharevic held discussions with AirAsia in 2017 about creating artwork for the airline’s jets and a mural in one of its offices, during which the airline was fully informed of his work and business rates. Despite this, Zacharevic contends that the airline later reproduced his work on a plane without permission, “wilfully infringing the plaintiff’s copyright and moral rights.”
AirAsia, Asia’s largest low-cost carrier, operates more than 200 jets to over 100 destinations. The airline recently announced plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via Bahrain, marking a return to the British capital after more than a decade. The BBC has reached out to AirAsia for comment on the lawsuit.
Zacharevic said he will let the court determine any compensation he may be entitled to. He emphasised that the work in question is “a distinct artistic creation” and not simply a cultural or geographical reference, highlighting the years of professional training and effort behind the mural.
The lawsuit raises questions about intellectual property and the use of public artworks in commercial contexts, especially in cases where prominent cultural symbols are adapted for marketing purposes without the artist’s approval. Zacharevic’s case could set a precedent for how copyright and moral rights are respected in Malaysia’s growing creative and commercial sectors.
