Just thought I'd note "fans" often do things 
which question their own status.

I remember coming across a website of a guy who 
scanned artbooks and cut together stuff to make 
desktop backgrounds. And then insisted that no 
one should touch "his work." This is wrong in so 
many ways, not to mention off topic.

As has been said, have your friend, the artist, 
send a letter to whoever is supplying his server 
space.