Annie Leibovitz Sues Observer Media Over Bieber Photo
Photographer Annie Leibovitz has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Observer Media, owner of Observer.com, in Manhattan federal court. The suit concerns a 2019 Vogue portrait of Justin and Hailey Bieber in Dolce & Gabbana pajamas, which Observer.com allegedly used without permission in a May 2020 article. Leibovitz seeks up to $150,000 per unauthorized use and disgorgement of profits, claiming willful infringement. Her team sent a takedown letter in May 2024 but received no response. The lawsuit follows a recent appeals court ruling that revived a separate case by Leibovitz's agency, Great Bowery Inc., against Consequence Sound LLC over Star Wars photos, clarifying that exclusive licensees can sue even if the photographer retains some rights.
Key facts
- Annie Leibovitz sued Observer Media in Manhattan federal court for copyright infringement.
- The photo shows Justin and Hailey Bieber in matching Dolce & Gabbana pajamas on sun loungers.
- The image was originally taken for Vogue in 2019.
- Observer.com published the photo in a May 2020 article without permission.
- Leibovitz's team sent a takedown letter in May 2024, which was ignored.
- Leibovitz seeks up to $150,000 per unauthorized exploitation and disgorgement of profits.
- The lawsuit alleges willful, intentional, and malicious infringement.
- A recent appeals court ruling in a related case clarified that exclusive licensees can sue for infringement.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Observer Media
- Observer.com
- Vogue
- Rolling Stone
- Great Bowery Inc.
- Trunk Archive
- Consequence Sound LLC
- Condé Nast
- PetaPixel
- Observer Newspaper
- Consequence Sound
- Vanity Fair
- 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals
- Manhattan federal court
- Artlyst
Locations
- Manhattan
- New York
- United States