Advances in technology over the course of the last few decades have significantly changed how people communicate and interact. With the click of a button, people and companies in California and globally can share information with millions of followers. Despite the advantages of these advances, there is a downside as it is easier to make images that are copyrighted by someone else, for example, more readily available without proper attribution. In fact, reality star Khloe Kardashian now faces litigation over a picture she posted on social media.
The plaintiff in the case is a company called Xposure Photos, reportedly an agency dealing in paparazzi photos. According to court papers, the picture was taken on Sept. 2016 as Kardashian exited a restaurant with one of her sisters. She reportedly shared the picture the next day to her 67 million followers on a social media platform.
The lawsuit claims that Kardashian did not property credit the photo agency or get its permission to share it. In fact, court papers claim, she edited the picture in order to remove copyright information. Because Kardashian shared the photo, the agency claims that it was unable to sell it to magazines or newspapers who might have otherwise purchased it. The company is seeking $150,000 in damages.
Unfortunately, companies and people must work hard to protect their copyright. In some cases, infringement can have a detrimental impact on a company’s ability to make money on its work. In some cases in California, litigation may be the best option to ensure that a copyright is protected.
Source: New York Daily News, “Khloe Kardashian sued by photo agency for allegedly posting picture without permission“, Peter Sblendorio, April 27, 2017
