Look, we all have things from our past that come back to haunt us—just ask popular music diva and Hollywood actress, Jennifer Lopez (J.Lo), who recently got hit with a $150,000 lawsuit for a photo she uploaded to Instagram of her and her fiance, Alex Rodriguez—two years ago!
J.Lo’s Unlicensed Use of Photographer Photos
Jennifer Lopez was recently hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit for a photo of her and her fiance, Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod). The photo in question was posted two years ago to Jennifer Lopez’s Instagram account and is now landing her in BIG legal trouble.
The lawsuit was filed Saturday in the US District for the Central District of California by Splash News and Picture Agency. The image shows J.Lo and A-Rod holding hands over breakfast in New York City. Splash claims that they took the photo but never licensed it to Lopez and that she had no right to post it.
“Nevertheless, Lopez used it without authorization of permission from [Splash] to do so,” states the lawsuit.
The picture was posted on November 7, 2017. The suit claims, “The Photograph is creative, distinctive and valuable. Because of the subject’s celebrity status, and the photograph’s quality and visual appeal, [Splash] (and the photographer it represents) stood to gain revenue from licensing the photograph.”
Look, being a part of the Paparazzi may not be a highly respected or glamorous job—but it’s still a legal job that brings in legal income for some. J.Lo posting that picture to her Instagram definitely harmed the value of the photo itself. “The Instagram post made the Photograph immediately available to Lopez’s tens of millions followers and others, consumers of entertainment news—and especially news and images of Lopez herself, as evidenced by their status as followers of her—who would otherwise be interested in viewing licensed versions of the Photograph in the magazines and newspapers that are plaintiff’s customers.”
And it’s not like Splash sat on their hands for two years. According to the lawsuit, they notified Lopex through her reps on December 12, 2017.
“At the time Lopez copied and distributed the photograph, she knew or should have known she did not have authorization or permission to do so.”
At the end of the day, if Lopez used an unlicensed photo for personal gain, then she needs to face the consequences. Especially since this wouldn’t be the first time this has happened. Photographer Michael Stewart sued J.Lo in 2018, claiming ownership of yet another photo that was posted to J.Lo’s Instagram.
Whatever your thoughts are on the matter, let us know what you’re thinking in the comments below!
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What was her gain? If there were indeed gain then I say the suit has merit. If there was no gain then I understand being angry. It would have been nice if she had asked. Not taking it down when first asked is the part that makes me think that the suit has merit.
Paparazzi maybe legal but…..they take an unauthorized photo of someone…..they make money off an unauthorized photo and then sue when that person posts it?
I am really on the fence on this one…..
$150,000?!! Pay day.
She posted a publically available photo of herself in a forum that gave her no income. No harm, no foul.
Bet no one asked her permission to take the pic in the first place.
She gets PAID for every post. So yes she got income, thus harm and foul.
only if she is repping a brand or product.
Was she repping a brand or product? Or advertising something in her engagement photo?
When some magazines want to shoot JLo, they paid her. The question is, when a paparazi shoot her, do they pay her? Or even more, do they ask for permission first?
I think if then JLo use the photo, it’s okay, since it’s herself in the photo, as long as she didn’t said that she took the photo by herself.
The paparazi take the photo for free.. so why JLo must pay for her own photo?
But if someone else use the photo, it’s fair that they must paid the photographer for their effort.