The Art Newspaper, following the lead of USA Today, introduces us to Robert Francis Montgomery/Robert Fontaine, who is being sued by Robert Rauschenberg for selling some large negatives he “found” in Rauschenberg’s garbage. The weird thing is that he’s selling the “work” as authentic Rauschenbergs, with certificates and everthing. My favorite part?

Montgomery says that all of Rauschenberg’s claims are barred because Rauschenberg “is the author” of the material which is the subject of the lawsuit. In an answer filed in court on 14 February, Montgomery says that the claims are further barred because if Rauschenberg did sustain damages, they are attributable to the artist’s “own reckless, negligent or culpable conduct.”

Like taking out his trash. At any rate, if Montgomery wins this thing, you’ll find me outside Julian Snapple’s house in the West Village, every Thursday, waiting for him to take out the recycling.

Images by Arman: Robert Rauschenberg’s Refuse (left), La Poubelle de Bernard Venet (right)