(Image courtesy from wikimedia.org)
Celebrities are often the target of copyright lawsuits, as they continue to face legal action over the unauthorized use of images on social media platforms like Instagram. Recently, Miley Cyrus was sued over copyright violations related to a photograph that she posted on her Instagram account. Other celebrities, including Emily Ratajkowski, Bethenny Frankel, Lisa Rinna, rapper Nas and Dua Lipa have all been sued for this activity.
While copyright laws are in place to protect the creators of original content, unauthorized use of images on social media can put celebrities at risk for legal action. Whether it’s intentional or an accident, copyright violations are taken seriously by copyright holders and often result in costly lawsuits. As a result, celebrities need to be aware of copyright restrictions when posting images online and ensure that they have the legal rights to use any content that they share. Otherwise, they risk facing costly copyright litigation.
Multiple Lawsuits, Repeat Violations by Miley Cyrus
Over the years, Miley Cyrus has been sued multiple times for copyright infringement related to her social media posts. She has repeatedly posted the work of photographers on her profile, to attract the attention and user engagement of her fan base. While this may build value for her and her career, this constitutes a flagrant violation of copyright law and the rights of photographers.
Despite repeated warnings and legal action, Miley Cyrus continues to post copyright-protected images on her Instagram account. This puts her at risk for copyright lawsuits and could potentially result in significant financial damages. Plaintiffs may demand higher damages for her willful violations, which they may be able to prove based on her repeated course of conduct despite being named in multiple lawsuits.
Some Celebrities are Now Reluctantly Licensing Photographs for Use on Social Media
While some celebrities, such as Khloe Kardashian now license images – even though she indicates it “makes no sense” that she should have to license these images – others continue to ignore the law.
Word of Advice to Celebrities: License Images You Want to Use
It is particularly disturbing that those in the entertainment industry, who are paid for their creative work and would aggressively sue anyone who violates their rights, ignore the rights of non-celebrity creative individuals.
If you’re a celebrity and want to post copyright-protected images on social media without risk of legal action, the best way to do so is by licensing the images from copyright holders. Otherwise, you may end up facing costly copyright lawsuits that could have lasting impacts on your career and public image.
Have Your Images Been Used without Your Permission?
If you’re a copyright holder and believe that your images have been illegally used by a celebrity on social media, it’s important to take legal action right away. To learn more about copyright infringement lawsuits and to get help with your case, reach out to an experienced copyright lawyer today.
The attorneys at Sanders Law Group have tremendous experience in copyright law, and can help copyright holders navigate copyright litigation to get the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a consultation at (800) 979-3707 or complete the form on this page.
Source: https://petapixel.com/2022/09/13/why-some-celebs-license-photos-of-themselves-and-others-steal-them/
