Can Sotheby's Be Trusted To Protect American Cultural Interests?

In 1UV MONTHLY Issue 27, March 2026 I an article in the CREATIVE POLITICS (international) column titled: REAL ESTATE AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION: my conversation with Mr. Stuart Shankle of Sotheby’s International Real Estate in Carmel, CA

1UV Monthly ISSUE 27 pg 22 23 Sothebys article.pdf

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To learn how to access the entire issue click here.

The article was about my conversation with a native California man, Stuart Shankle, who closed his family legacy real estate office to join Sotheby's in Carmel, CA. Mr. Shankle said it was hard closing the office, but it had been "the best decision" he ever made when it came to his business. My article never called into question the integrity of Mr. Shankle, but it did question the wisdom of American communities allowing foreign entities such as Sotheby's owned by controversial French-Israeli billionaire, Patrick Drahi, to take over. According to many recent reports, Mr. Drahi recently moved his primary residence from Switzerland to Israel. He also took the Sotheby's company private after purchasing it in 2019 for $3.7 billion US dollars. In the end, the question my article posed to readership was can a company such as Sotheby's be trusted to respect and honor local cultures and communities in the United States over foreign financial interests. My personal opinion was not offered in the article but I will share it now. I do not believe Sotheby's can be trusted to protect American cultural interests over the financial interests of the recently investigated and internationally penalized billionaire, Patrick Drahi.

When reaching out to Sotheby's to arrange an interview with an agent for the original article I called the Capitola, CA office. I was interested in speaking with an agent that had a business near my Soquel, CA location. I was turned away from the Capitola office and directed to reach out to Shankle who eagerly set up an appointment to meet. After the article went to print I sent limited edition print copies to Drahi and Shankle's offices. On Friday, April 3, 2026 I found the following "free paper" owned by Times Publishing Group in my business mailbox:

As of the time I was writing and researching the original article published in 1UV MONTHLY Magazine Sotheby's was NOT using the slogan "Find your one of a kind."

I called the Capitola office to voice my displeasure and question the ethics of the company using such "inspiration" from my business to sell their company's services. I spoke with Becky Jones, co-ordinator of the Monterey and Santa Cruz offices. I explained my article and business name and location and questioned the ethics of such branding appropriation. She claimed to not know anything about my article or business but gave me her email and said she would talk to her "marketing guy" about things and call me back. As of yet, she has not called me back. I sent her a total of three emails, messages quoted below.

Email message 1:

Hi Becky.

Thank you for your time on the phone today.

Attached you will find a pdf of the article I wrote as it was published, the cover of the issue it was published in and jpeg images of your ad.

This is a link to my posted advertising fees.

This is a link to the published explanation of my business name. (scroll to the bottom of the newsletter)

This is a link to the about page of my gallery....the about page of the magazine.

I look forward to your phone call and invite you to visit the gallery in person. I am open to the public today and tomorrow.

Email message 2:

Two last links...

This is a link to a gratis post of the opening statements of the March 2026 issue.

This is a link to the page where online subscribers can download a digital copy of the entire issue.

I'm sorry I don't have remaining print copies to offer you. Print issues are limited edition and distributed gratis. They tend to go fast.

Email message 3:

My question for you to pose to your corporate lawyers is this: If 1UV Gallery Studio were to advertise our work as "Sotheby's quality Art" would Sotheby's sue 1UV for trademark infringement, intellectual property infringement or some such thing? I also offer "Member Gallery" affiliation packages. It is a financial partnership that includes compensation for the use of the 1UV branding.

For Sotheby's reference I offer services for creative consultation on all creative projects. Marketing campaign slogan development/campaign design is included in my advertising package fees for the magazine. Issue 10 page 12 features an in-depth article about my advertising services. The issue can be downloaded for free at this link.

If Sotheby's has any questions about my business and services the only contact is me. I wear all the hats except accounting. I'm a one woman show. ALL the Art in the magazine is also mine in addition to the writing (unless otherwise noted).

I have had a lot of intellectual property stolen over the years and I have written about it extensively. Drahi's company isn't the first billionaire company to help themselves to my IP. The use of such branding, in light of the well defined services I offer, is considered "derivative works" under IP law. I have no expectation of legal recompense or being treated fairly by Drahi or anyone who works to make him rich...but I do know if and when the time comes for my husband, Omar, and I to sell our one of a kind historical redwood property it will not be with a Sotheby's agent.

UPDATE:

On the evening of April 7, 2026 I received the following message in an email:

Hi Larissa – Thank you for your patience.

I passed your message along to our legal department and they have ask that you (or your attorney) put your position in writing to us, they are not understanding what the claim is.

Becky

To which I replied on April 8, 2026 via email:

Hello Becky.

Thank you for finally getting back to me.

I don't have the money for an attorney. I am not a corporation. I am a one of a kind one woman show. I did write about this, however: https://www.1uvmonthlymagazine.net/post/can-sotheby-s-be-trusted-to-protect-american-cultural-interests

My question is: Will Sotheby's sue me if I start to advertise myself as "Sotheby's Quality Art" or some such variation. 

It's a matter of ethics and double standards between small independent business and companies owned by billionaires. My husband is Arab. His father was from Egypt...AND there are many people with our last name in Lebanon...though we know none of them. My husband and I both have dealt with threats from Zionist groups as well as Islamic groups over the years simply for existing. It's part of why I don't use my last name publicly/professionally anymore. My business (1UV Gallery Studio & MONTHLY Magazine) was originally in Saratoga, CA and I moved because every Sunday a Zionist group would march by and shake an Israeli flag in my business front door. I have two olive trees in my yard at home. Does someone want to come dig those up too? The appropriation of MY branding by YOUR marketing team smacks of elitist privilege. I know you don't "allow" anyone in your office to talk about it, but this stuff happens whether or not you think it's "polite" to talk about it. It might be politics to you but to me it's very very personal. The man who owns your company, Patrick Drahi, is a Zionist. My original article was about the general politics of real estate and NOT a commentary on Sotheby's ethics. My new article IS about Sotheby's ethics, or lack thereof.

I will continue to add updates as they are relevant.