Rihanna has been hit with a second lawsuit for images in her controversial “S&M” music video, which was directed by Melina Matsoukasby. German photographer Philip Paulus alleges that a copy of one of his most famous images was featured in the clip.
According to Rihanna’s defense lawyers, Paulus is “effectively trying to monopolize an entire subject matter or genre in two different mediums.”
Rihanna has not issued any statement in response to the lawsuit.
R&B singer Rihanna has been hit with yet another lawsuit over her controversial music video for “S&M.” The song, released in 2011, was met with a great amount of criticism and controversy due to its explicit sexual content. Now the artist is facing backlash from another party who claims they were not credited or compensated adequately for their work on the project. This article takes an in-depth look at this current legal dispute and what it could mean for Rihanna’s career.
The infamous music video accompanying Rihanna’s “S&M” single features numerous images that many found inappropriate and offensive. It follows the singer as she engages in various suggestive activities throughout Los Angeles and other parts of the world. Despite its risqué nature, the video managed to garner millions of views online, making it one of Rihanna’s most successful tracks.
However, now Rihanna is being taken to court by someone claiming they weren’t given proper credit or compensation after contributing artwork to the production process. This second lawsuit comes five years after a similar suit filed against the star back in 2013. With two major cases pending against her, fans are wondering if this will be enough to tarnish Rihanna’s reputation as an artist and performer.
Background Of The Dispute
This dispute stems from a music video released in 2011 by the artist Rihanna called S&M. The video, which was directed and produced by Melina Matsoukas, featured various scenes showing Rihanna engaging in activities involving bondage and other types of BDSM play. In response to these depictions, the photographer David LaChapelle filed a lawsuit against both Rihanna and her record label Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming that they had copied his work without permission or authorization.
Now, UMG is facing a second lawsuit related to the same video. This time around, it’s being sued for copyright infringement by another photographer named Phillip Paulus. According to Paulus’ complaint, he owns the rights to certain photographs used as backdrops during some of the shots in S&M that were based on his own original works. He claims that UMG never obtained permission or consent for using them in this way and is now seeking damages for copyright infringement and breach of contract.
The case has yet to be resolved; however, if UMG is found liable then they could face serious financial penalties due to their unauthorized use of Paulus’ copyrighted images. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will end up playing out but either way it’s an important reminder of just how costly copyright violations can be when not taken seriously.
Details Of The Legal Action
As the dispute continues to unfold, more details of the legal action are beginning to emerge. Paulus has alleged that he is entitled to damages for both copyright infringement and breach of contract due to UMG’s unauthorized use of his photographs in S&M. He claims that despite knowing about his ownership rights prior to creating the video, they went ahead without obtaining any type of permission or consent from him.
In response to this lawsuit, UMG has argued that it had not violated any intellectual property laws since Matsoukas was simply using images with which she was familiar – such as those seen on LaChapelle’s website – rather than intentionally copying them from another source. However, a judge will ultimately have to decide whether or not this defense holds up under scrutiny.
Ultimately, this case serves as an important reminder for companies who produce music videos and other creative works: always obtain proper licenses and permissions before incorporating someone else’s copyrighted material into your projects. Ignoring these steps can lead to costly trouble down the line if you’re ever caught infringing upon somebody else’s work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rihanna’s S&M music video has now resulted in two legal disputes. This situation highlights the importance of being aware of copyright laws and ensuring that all content is properly licensed when used in creative projects.
It appears that both parties are determined to pursue their claims through the court system. As a result, it could be some time before either side reaches a resolution or settlement. Regardless of the outcome, this case should serve as an important reminder for creators to ensure they are legally compliant with any materials they use.
Ultimately, it will be up to the courts to decide which party is liable for infringing on copyrights. Until then, we can only wait and see what happens next in this ongoing dispute between Rihanna and Deerhunter Records.
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