The special prosecutor who charged George Zimmerman with second-degree murder in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin is the subject of his latest painting, according to a photo posted on Twitter by Zimmerman's brother. 
 
 A photographer and news agency whose picture of State Attorney Angela Corey appears to be the basis for George Zimmerman's latest painting are calling the artwork a clear copyright violation. 
 
 Jacksonville attorney John Phillips, who represents photographer Rick Wilson, told the Orlando Sentinel on Friday that Zimmerman should expect legal action if he continues to use the photo. 
 
 "You just can't do that," Phillips said. "You just can't take somebody else's work and make it your own." 
 
 Zimmerman's brother unveiled the painting Wednesday on Twitter: An red-and-orange image of Corey, who charged Zimmerman with murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. 
 
 The image of Corey appears to be an altered reproduction of a photo Wilson took April 11, 2012, when Corey announced Zimmerman would face a second-degree murder charge. 
 
 Wilson said he took the photograph as a freelancer for The Associated Press, and he said AP owns its copyright. 
 
 Zimmerman's use of his photo for profit "to me crosses a line," Wilson said. "He's trying to profit and pass off, basically, a photograph as his own original artwork." 
 
 In a statement Friday, AP spokesman Paul Colford confirmed the news network has sent Zimmerman a cease-and-desist letter. 
 
 Zimmerman "clearly directly copied an AP photo to create his painting of Florida State Attorney Angela Corey," Colford said. 
 
 If Zimmerman moves forward with plans to sell the image, "the next step would be to, in conjunction with the AP, to file suit against him," Phillips said. 
 
 Wilson said he hired the attorney "to provide me guidance and assistance through this process, not specifically to file a lawsuit against George Zimmerman." 
 
 Zimmerman's painting teacher, Jeff Sonksen, said he taught Zimmerman to paint by projecting an image onto a canvas. He knew Zimmerman was unemployed and needed cash. 
 
 "How's he ever going to make any money?" Sonksen asked. 
 
 Phillips compared the Zimmerman painting to the famous Barack Obama "Hope" posters from the 2008 election season, which sparked a copyright controversy between the artist, Shepard Fairey, and The Associated Press. 
 
 That matter was settled out of court. 
 
 Zimmerman put a previous painting up for auction on eBay. The winning bid was $100,099.99, though it remains unconfirmed whether he was paid that sum. 
 
 "I was shocked it didn't sell for a million dollars," said Sonksen, Zimmerman's art teacher. 
 
 The new painting is an image of Corey gesturing with her fingers and thumb together, under the words "I have this much respect for the American judicial system." 
 
 Zimmerman's brother Robert did not respond to a request for comment Friday. In July, a jury acquitted George Zimmerman of murder in the 2012 Sanford shooting. 
 
 jeweiner@tribune.com or 407-420-5171. Jon Busdeker contributed. 

 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Associated Press has demanded that George Zimmerman halt the sale of one of his paintings because the news agency says it directly copies an AP photo. 
 
 FILE - This undated file photo shows a painting by George Zimmerman, portraying Florida State Attorney Angela Corey, the special prosecutor who charged him with second-degree murder in the 2012 shooting... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this April 11, 2012, file photo, Florida State Attorney Angela Corey announces in Jacksonville, Fla., that George Zimmerman will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of... (Associated Press) 
 
 This combination image shows an Associated Press photo, top, of Florida State Attorney Angela Corey, taken in Jacksonville, Fla., on April 11, 2012, during her announcement of second-degree murder charges... (Associated Press) 
 
 Zimmerman's painting depicts Jacksonville-based prosecutor Angela Corey holding her thumb and fingers together. An apparently made-up quote Zimmerman added to the piece reads, "I have this much respect for the American judicial system." Corey's office prosecuted Zimmerman for the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder last summer. 
 
 Zimmerman's brother, Robert Zimmerman Jr., posted an image of the painting Wednesday on Twitter and tweeted a day later that they were in negotiations with possible buyers. 
 
 A letter with the AP's demands said that Zimmerman's painting was a direct copy of an AP photo taken at the April 2012 news conference where Corey announced Zimmerman would be charged with murder. It was taken for the AP by freelancer Rick Wilson. The news cooperative asked that any sale be blocked — and that, if there has been a sale, that the AP be paid damages. 
 
 The AP sent the letter to Jayne Weintraub, one of a handful of attorneys who has recently represented Zimmerman. Weintraub said she no longer represents Zimmerman but said she will forward the letter to him. 
 
 "George Zimmerman clearly directly copied an AP photo to create his painting of Florida State Attorney Angela Corey," AP spokesman Paul Colford said in a written statement. 
 
 Zimmerman sold another painting on eBay last month, with a winning bid of $100,099.99. 
 
 George Zimmerman's exact whereabouts are unknown, and an email address and phone number for him could not be found. His brother, who has frequently served as his spokesman, did not immediately respond to an email. 
 
 On Twitter, George Zimmerman wrote Friday evening: "No worries AP, I'll just take whatever U sue me for off your tab when I'm done suing you :-) Or... I could put out how much U offered me 2.." 
 
 Responding to Zimmerman's tweet, Colford, the AP spokesman, said: "We don't know what he's talking about." 
 
 Martin's fatal shooting sparked a nationwide debate about race and self-defense. Zimmerman was accused of racially profiling Martin and said he shot the teen to protect himself. 
 
 Artist Shepard Fairey got in a legal dispute with the AP after he used an AP photo in his famous Barack Obama "HOPE" poster. Fairey sued the AP in an effort to get a court declaration that he did not violate AP's copyrights when he made the Obama image. The AP countersued, saying the uncredited, uncompensated use of its picture both violated copyright laws and was a threat to journalism. 
 
 Claims between the news agency and Fairey were settled in 2011, with Fairey agreeing to pay the AP $1.6 million.
– The Associated Press has sent a cease-and-desist letter to George Zimmerman over his latest painting because it's based on one of the agency's photos. The photographer who took the original image isn't too happy, either, reports the Orlando Sentinel. The painting is of Florida prosecutor Angela Corey, though Zimmerman added a mocking caption. His brother unveiled it earlier this week on Twitter and said negotiations were underway with buyers. A previous Zimmerman painting sold for about $100,000 on eBay. "George Zimmerman clearly directly copied an AP photo to create his painting of Florida State Attorney Angela Corey," says AP spokesman Paul Colford. Adds photographer Rick Wilson: "You just can't take somebody else's work and make it your own." AP, not Wilson, owns the copyright, though the photographer has gotten himself an attorney. Yesterday, Zimmerman tweeted, "No worries AP, I'll just take whatever U sue me for off your tab when I'm done suing you :-) Or... I could put out how much U offered me 2.." To which the AP spokesman said, "We don't know what he's talking about." It's reminiscent of AP's settlement with artist Shepard Fairey a while back.