Pop star Dua Lipa is being sued after allegedly posting a paparazzi photo of herself on Instagram “without permission or authorisation”. The singer shared a snap of herself queuing at an airport in February 2019.
Integral Images claim the star profited from the picture because her Instagram feed is a marketing tool for her music. The company requested a jury trial, and are seeking $150,000 (£108,000) in damages. They also want all legal costs paid, and an order preventing Lipa from infringing their work again.
On 7 February 2019, Lipa published the now deleted post on her Instagram account, around four days after the photo was taken. The image depicts the star wearing an oversized hat and holding her flight ticket and passport as she stands in line. Alongside the photo she wrote, “I’ll be living under big fluffy hats until further notice”.
According to US records, requests for copyright were granted on 20 February 2021, which is after Lipa’s Instagram post. However, Integral Images claim she “knowingly” published the picture on social media without permission, and stood to profit from the shot. Court documents state her Instagram account is “monetised in that it contains content designed to accumulate followers who are directed to, via link and/or advertisement, consume and purchase [her] content”.
Photographers own the rights
Copyright law dictates that the photographer is the the one who usually holds the rights to an image. Although people often assume they can post images which they feature in.
Lipa is not the only star to face legal action for sharing paparazzi images of themselves to social media. Others with similar cases include Khloe Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, Liam Hemsworth, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. Jennifer Lopez also found herself in hot water when the Splashy News and Picture Agency sued her for posting a photo to Instagram of herself and Alex Rodriguez.
Despite the recent legal troubles, Lipa is having a great year. Her lockdown antidote Future Nostalgia netted her a best pop album award at the Grammys. She also won best album at the Brits.
Aside from her music career, she has landed her first film role in upcoming spy thriller Argylle. She will star alongside big name Hollywood actors Samuel L Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill and Bryce Dallas Howard. Lipa will also provide the music for the movie’s title track.
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