AceShowbiz -

An artist has penned an open letter to Spike Lee alerting the director that some of the posters for "Oldboy" were stolen from him. Now the helmer responds, insisting that "I Never Heard Of This Guy Juan Luis Garcia,If He Has A Beef It's Not With Me.I Did Not Hire Him,Do Not Know Him.Cheap Trick Writing To Me.YO."

In his letter, the artist named Juan Luis Garcia said he was approached by an ad agency back in January. "They wanted me to design some comps to present to you," he wrote. "They told me the budget was small and that they could only pay me peanuts for the comps but if you and the studio liked any of them I would then be compensated fairly through the licensing buyout fee."

"I know, I saw all of the warning signs but the idea of working for you and having my design represent your film blinded me. So I went along with it," he continued. "I put all I had into designing the comps. I wanted to impress you and I guess I did."

But things went bad from there. According to him, he was harassed by the agency after refusing the paycheck they offered. He said he had to decline because it was "an insultingly low offer" which he claimed was the same amount of money he made in a single day as a photo assistant.

He ended up not getting paid at all and then being threatened with legal action when he put the posters on his portfolio and they went viral. He eventually removed the posters from the portfolio but got shocked when they eventually landed on the official website of Lee's production company with copyrights.

"I just couldn't believe it. I perceive you as an advocate of the arts and artists and have a sinking feeling that you are as much of a victim in this as I am," he wrote. He also said he and the agency "never signed any contracts or work-for-hire agreements," adding, "I certainly never agreed to donating or selling any copyright of my work without a licensing fee."

Supports for Garcia are flooding on the internet after Lee's dismissal. In response to the director's comment that it's not his dispute and that the open letter was "a cheap trick," one wrote, "Why is it a trick if he's appealing to you to help preserve the integrity of his art?" Another said, "I think it's pretty clear his beef is with the ad agency and that he would like your support, no?"

A similar message read, "Whether you wanted it or not, now you know and if you don't act you are as guilty as that s*****g of agency." Another tweet read, "Ultimately you're the captain of that ship. Look into it, or look stupid. Your pick!"