Six months after settling on similar case, the '7 Rings' hitmaker is accused of illegally using Robert Barbera's paparazzi photos that capture her wearing a sweatshirt bearing 'Thank U, Next' artwork.
- January 8, 2020
AceShowbiz - Ariana Grande has been accused of lifting the work of a New York photographer for the second time in less than a year.
The "7 Rings" hitmaker has been slapped with a new lawsuit by Robert Barbera, who claims she illegally used one of his paparazzi snaps featuring the singer exiting a Manhattan building while wearing a white sweatshirt bearing the artwork for her "Thank U, Next" album cover.
In court papers obtained by The Blast, he states, "(Grande) ran the Photograph on their Instagram Story on their Instagram Page to promote their brand and clothing by saying 'My Merch Is So Cute and Comfy, Swipe Up To Get Da Look' on the Photograph...."
"Defendants did not license the Photograph from Plaintiff for its Instagram Page, nor did Defendants have Plaintiff's permission or consent to publish the Photograph on its Instagram Page."
Barbera notes he previously sued Grande for a similar dispute, in which the pop superstar was alleged to have used two candid photos the snapper had taken of her in New York to promote the release of her last album, "Sweetener".
That case was settled in July (2019).
Barbera is now suing for copyright infringement and seeking all "profits, income, receipts, or other benefits derived by Defendant as a result of its unlawful conduct," in addition to punitive damages.
Grande has yet to comment on the legal trouble.
