Kanye West is at the center of a legal storm as he faces a $1.5 million lawsuit for allegedly infringing on copyright by sharing paparazzi photos of himself and wife Bianca Censori without permission on social media.
According to reports from Law 360, BackGrid USA Inc. and its British counterpart, Backgrid London Ltd., have accused Ye of copyright infringement for posting ten of their images on Instagram and his Yeezy website without obtaining proper licensing, resulting in significant financial losses for the companies.
The lawsuit highlights the impact on potential revenue, claiming damages of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars due to Kanye’s unauthorized use of the photos. It asserts that as an artist and entrepreneur, West should be well aware of copyright laws and the necessity of obtaining licenses before using others’ works.
The plaintiffs are seeking $150,000 in damages for each photo, along with reimbursement for attorney fees and a detailed account of any profits or benefits Kanye may have gained from sharing the images.
In a separate development, Kanye West has stirred controversy by showing support for Diddy and R. Kelly, despite their involvement in alleged sex crimes. At a recent album release party in Los Angeles, Ye took on the role of DJ and played a diverse range of music, including tracks from artists like Prince, Eurythmics, The Eagles, JAY-Z, as well as Diddy and R. Kelly back-to- back.
Producer Mike Hector shared the surprising playlist on social media, highlighting Kanye’s unconventional music choices. This comes after Kanye referenced both R. Kelly and Diddy in his past work, including his chart-topping hit “Carnival” from Vultures 1.
Kanye’s history of collaborations with R. Kelly, notably on the G.O.O.D. Music album Cruel Summer in 2012, adds another layer of complexity to his current legal and public relations challenges.
Written by
Derek Chan
