LOS ANGELES — A British Columbia professional photographer is suing a skin care company, alleging use of licensed images on its website without consent.
Alex Maxim of Nanaimo, British Columbia, filed a complaint Jan. 25 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Los Angeles Laser Aesthetics and Skin Care Inc., and Does 1 through 10, alleging violation of the Copyright Act.
According to the complaint, in October 2016, Maxim discovered Los Angeles Laser Aesthetics was using his exclusive images on its website to advertise its services. The suit says one image was used to advertise various products sold by the defendant, while the other image was prominently displayed next to the company's name.
The images are available for licensing through Maxim's website but Maxim says he never consented to allow the defendant to use the images to advertise its business.
The plaintiff alleges Los Angeles Laser Aesthetics and Skin Care used, published, communicated, benefited through, posted, publicized, and otherwise held out to the public for commercial benefit, the original, unique and copyrighted images without consent.
Maxim seeks trial by jury, statutory, general and special damages up to $150,000, costs of litigation, injunction preventing further infringement and all other relief the court deems just and proper. He is represented by attorney Matthew K. HIgbee of Higbee & Associates in Santa Ana.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California case number 2:18-cv-00645-DMG-PLA