Union Sq. Spoof Prompts Suit

Union Square. The Web site looked like it belonged to the business improvement district known as the Union Square Partnership, but it obviously was poking fun at the USP’s controversial pet project.

For seven years, USP has tried to build a tony restaurant in the historic pavilion at Union Square, over the objections of community members. Six months ago, performance artist Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping joined the fight by staging theatrical protests.

Costumed players taunted a USP cocktail party posed as historical figures who’d made speeches in the pavilion, and a small garden was planted in front of the Union Square Café, which is owned by USP’s co-chair restaurateur Danny Meyer.

The Web site was “clearly over-the-top,” said Savitri Durkee, who’s now being sued by USP for copyright infringement. “When you look at the Onion, you don’t have to read very far to see it’s a joke. Parody is protected speech.”

The site is down, but Durkee still holds the domain name unionsquarepartnership.org.

“This plan came from wealthy people who saw a profit venture. Ultimately I just want more public space for New Yorkers, and I don’t think we should have to pay to use it,” she said.

The Parks Department and USP did not return calls.

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Can’t take a joke?

The parody site had photos of a chopped-down elm tree next to a headline saying “Danny Meyer Apologizes to Reverend Billy.” One picture showed a squirrel holding a sign that said, “Not for Sale.”