What are the legal considerations when incorporating graffiti elements into comics or anime-inspired artwork?

Using actual graffiti without permission is illegal. Artists must create original designs inspired *by* graffiti, rather than directly copying existing works. Even stylized representations can be problematic if they closely resemble protected artwork. Using public domain imagery or creating entirely original designs is crucial. Consideration should also be given to the context – depicting graffiti in a negative light could be problematic, while celebrating it artistically is generally less so.