LOS ANGELES – A North Hollywood makeup art photography company alleges a clothing manufacturer used one of its photographs without permission on shirts.
Vladamua LLC filed a complaint on Sept. 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the Guess? Inc. and Does 1-10 alleging copyright infringement.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff specializes in high-quality makeup application and photography services. It alleges one of its most-popular works is titled "Liquid Gold" and was created by Vlada Haggerty and published on Instagram in May 2015.
The plaintiff holds Guess? Inc. and Does 1-10 responsible because the defendants allegedly used the "Liquid Gold" photograph on clothing without authorization and have refused to cease their infringement or pay plaintiff a licensing fee.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendants for statutory and actual damages; injunctive relief; accounting of, and disgorgement of, any and all profits derived from infringement; interest; costs of action; economic and consequential damages; and further relief as may be equitable. It is represented by Stephen Charles McArthur and Valerie McConnell of The McArthur Law Firm PC in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California case number 2:18-cv-08029