Jennifer Lopez is being sued for posting photos of herself taken by a paparazzi photographer who didn’t give the superstar permission to use those images.
Shutterbug Edwin Blanco and his photo agency, BackGrid USA, claim they own the rights to two shots J.Lo posted on Instagram showing her looking glamorous at a Golden Globe Awards after-party in January, according to Billboard.
The plaintiffs’ attorney contends J.Lo’s use of the photos was “commercial in nature” because she used them to promote herself and advantage her brand partnerships. The designer of the faux fur coat Lopez wore in the photos reportedly reposted the image.
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A settlement agreement between the 55-year-old Bronx native and the parties suing her was allegedly reached after her team was contacted about the copyright infringement claim. But the photo agency and its photographer claim they never received compensation.
Attorney Peter Perkowski, who represents Blanco and BackGrid, said in his filing that he had a similar dealing with Lopez in 2019 when she allegedly used one of his client’s photos without permission. That matter was reportedly dismissed voluntarily in 2020.
The plaintiffs in this case could by law receive as much as $150,000 per wrongfully used photo, according to Billboard. Lopez hasn’t addressed the claim.

Why Is Jennifer Lopez Being Sued by Paparazzi? Controversy Explained
Wondering why Jennifer Lopez is being sued again, and how paparazzi photos ignited a legal battle? The pop icon has found herself at the center of yet another copyright infringement controversy, and this time, it involves two professional photographers who claim she used the images without permission.

Why is Jennifer Lopez getting sued by paparazzi?
Jennifer Lopez sued once again, and this time it is for allegedly posting two paparazzi photos to her social media without securing proper licensing rights.
The images, taken outside the Amazon MGM Studios x Vanity Fair Golden Globes pre-party at LA’s Bar Marmont on January 4, became the basis of two separate lawsuits filed on May 17 by photographer Edwin Blanco and the photo agency BackGrid USA.

According to the complaint, Lopez put herself into hot water by uploading the pictures to her Instagram and X accounts the following day without authorization. The lawsuit claims that her post triggered reposts by fan pages and even fashion brands. This includes the designer of the faux fur coat she was wearing in the photos.
Attorney Peter Perkowski, representing Blanco and BackGrid, stated that Lopez’s use of the images served a promotional purpose. The “unauthorized use of the Images is commercial in nature,” he explained. He argues that Jennifer Lopez leveraged the event’s exposure to boost her fashion affiliations and brand deals. (via Billboard)
The legal filings reveal that BackGrid and Blanco’s reps reached out to Lopez’s team shortly after the incident. While they initially reached a verbal settlement, Lopez allegedly failed to sign a written agreement or follow through with the payment.
This isn’t the first time Jennifer Lopez has been sued for copyright infringement. In 2019, she faced similar legal action for posting a paparazzi photo with her then-partner Alex Rodriguez. That case was dismissed voluntarily, but Perkowski argues it should have served as a warning.

He further claims that Lopez has shown a “willful disregard” for the copyright act. This allows for damages of up to $150,000 per photo. As of now, neither Jennifer Lopez nor her representatives have publicly responded.
Jennifer Lopez sued in copyright case for posting photos of herself to social media
A photographer and photo agency filed a lawsuit against Jennifer Lopez alleging copyright infringement after the actor and singer allegedly posted copyrighted photos of herself from a pre-Golden Globes party to social media.
In the complaint, filed Saturday in federal court, photographer Edwin Blanco accuses Lopez of posting photos of her arriving and departing from the January event on Instagram and X without permission. Backgrid USA, a news and photo agency, filed a twin suit related to the same photographs, which the company and Blanco co-own, according to court documents.
The photos, which as of Tuesday remained on her Instagram and X with no visible watermark, show her in white fur coat and slip dress, clutching a Chanel purse. The post on Instagram is captioned “Weekend Glamour.”

A representative for Lopez did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Tuesday.
The lawsuit alleges that the “Let’s Get Loud” singer posted the photos to market designers she wore at the event. Blanco and Backgrid did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. But in a statement to Billboard, attorney Peter Perkowski, who represents Blanco and Backgrid, claims that Lopez’s use was “commercial in nature.”
“For example, Ms. Lopez used the images to spotlight the designer of her clothing and jewelry,” he told Billboard. “Leveraging the publicity from the event to promote her fashion affiliations and brand partnerships.”
He also told the outlet that both parties had “fruitful discussions” in the weeks after the photos were posted, with Lopez’s team orally agreeing to a monetary settlement. But when the papers arrived, Perkowski says she didn’t sign them and has not yet paid the agreed sum.

Backgrid and Blanco are seeking statutory damages up to $150,000 for each photo used as well as a jury trial, according to the lawsuit.
Lopez faced legal action in 2019 and 2020 for allegedly sharing photos of her taken by others. In 2020, her production company Nuyorican Productions was also sued for $40 million by a woman who inspired Lopez’s character in the film “Hustlers.”

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