LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles entertainment news agency is suing the owner of Unravel clothing company, alleging copyright infringement.
Splash News and Picture Agency, LLC filed a complaint Nov. 15 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Ben Taverniti and and Does 1 through 10, alleging violation of the Copyright Act of 1976.
According to the complaint, on May 4, 2017, Splash News became the owner and copyright holder of a photographic image of the well-know artist Rihanna published by Vogue magazine. Splash News says the photograph was illegally used and distributed on Instagram May 13, 2017, via Taverniti's clothing line, Unravel, without authorization or permission to do so.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants did not disclose their authorized uses of the copyright photograph or seek permission to use the photographs on their social media platforms.
Splash News and Picture Agency seeks trial by jury, actual damages and statutory damages between $2,500 and $25,000, plus pre-judgment interest, attorney fees, court costs, and all other relief the court deems just and proper. It is represented by attorney Peter E. Perkowski of Perkowski Legal, PC in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California case number 2:17-cv-08321-PSG-KS