Jennifer Lopez is being sued over an Instagram photo which she uploaded in 2017. The photo in question appears to be Jennifer dressed as her Shades of Blue character, Harlee, and was posted way back on June 22, 2017.
According to court documents, New York photographer, Steve Sands is accusing Lopez and her production company Nuyorican Productions for copyright infringement and seeks an excess of US$150,000 in damages.
Steve Sands is arguing that the photo was used without permission to “promote their brand” to her Instagram followers.
the lawsuit reads “Defendants did not license the Photograph from Plaintiff for its Website, nor did Defendants have Plaintiff’s permission or consent to publish the Photograph on its Website,”
“The Photograph is creative, distinctive, and valuable,” according to the court docs. “Because of the subject’s celebrity status, and the Photograph’s quality and visual appeal, plaintiff (and the photographer it represents) stood to gain revenue from licensing the Photograph
The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court by lawyer Richard Liebowitz. He tells E! News, “This is an example of celebrities using photographers photographs without permission to brand themselves on social media. The number of likes the photograph receives coupled with their number of social media followers is a tool to commercialize their posts.”
THIS IS NOT FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS!
Back in Oct. 2019, “THE LOVE DONT COST A THING” singer is also sued for $150k over a picture, she posted of Alex Rodriguez to her Instagram Story 2017 and again Earlier this year, Lopez and her production were once again sued for $40 million dollars by the woman who inspired the actress’ character Ramona in Hustlers, Samantha Barbash.
