After divorce from Ben Affleck and possible testimony in Diddy case, Jennifer Lopez is sued in copyright infringement case; here's what she did

Jennifer Lopez is once again in legal trouble, this time for a few glamorous photos. The singer-actress is being sued for allegedly posting professional photos of herself without permission.

The case comes as Lopez faces personal and legal challenges on multiple fronts.

Why is Jennifer Lopez being sued?

Jennifer Lopez is being sued by photographer Edwin Blanco and photo agency Backgrid USA for allegedly posting copyrighted photos of herself from a pre-Golden Globes event to Instagram and X, as per a report by the Los Angeles Times.


The lawsuit alleges that the posts were used to promote fashion brands. Plaintiffs are seeking damages and a jury trial.

Photographer Edwin Blanco filed the complaint in federal court on Saturday, alleging that Lopez posted pictures of her arriving and leaving the January event on Instagram and X without her consent.

ALSO READ: Young girl's viral moment, asks White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 'How many people has Donald Trump fired?' Here's how she responded

According to court documents, Backgrid USA, a news and photo agency, filed a twin suit over the same photos that Blanco and the company jointly own.

The images, which as of Tuesday were still on her Instagram and X without a watermark, feature her holding a Chanel purse while wearing a white slip dress and fur coat. The caption for the Instagram photo reads "Weekend Glamour."

According to the lawsuit, the singer shared the pictures online to promote the designers she was wearing.

Lawyer Peter Perkowski, who works for Blanco and Backgrid, says Lopez's use was "commercial in nature" in a statement to Billboard.

"For example, Ms. Lopez used the images to spotlight the designer of her clothing and jewellery," he stated to Billboard. "Leveraging the publicity from the event to promote her fashion affiliations and brand partnerships,” as quoted in a report by Los Angeles Times.

What do the plaintiffs want from the lawsuit?

In the weeks following the photos' release, he also told the outlet that Lopez's team verbally agreed to a financial settlement after "fruitful discussions" between the parties.

Perkowski claims she hasn't paid the agreed amount yet and didn't sign the documents when they arrived.

Besides a jury trial, Backgrid and Blanco are requesting statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each photo used.

Has this happened to Lopez before?

Jennifer Lopez was sued in 2019 and 2020 for allegedly posting pictures of herself that had been taken by someone else.

A woman who served as the inspiration for Lopez's character in the movie "Hustlers" sued her production company, Nuyorican Productions, for $40 million in 2020.

FAQs

Why are the photos an issue if they feature her?
As they were taken by a professional photographer who owns the copyright, even celebrities require permission before sharing them.

Did Jennifer Lopez attempt to settle the case?
Yes, her team allegedly agreed to a payment, but the final paperwork was never signed or paid, according to the lawsuit.