American singer and actress Jennifer Lopez is facing legal action after sharing a photo of herself on Instagram without the photographer’s consent. The image, taken by photographer Steve Sands in 2017, shows Lopez attending an event in New York City. Sands claims Lopez used the photo to promote her brand to millions of followers without obtaining the necessary license or compensating him. He is seeking up to \$150,000 in damages for copyright infringement.
This is not the first time Lopez has faced such accusations. In 2019, she was sued by Splash News and Picture Agency for posting a photo of herself with her then-fiancé Alex Rodriguez on Instagram without permission. That case also demanded \$150,000 in damages.
Legal experts highlight that celebrities often face lawsuits for using photographers’ work without authorization, as their social media posts can bring in significant commercial value. Photographers argue that unauthorized use of their images deprives them of revenue that could come from licensing the photos.
Lopez has yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for how celebrities use copyrighted content on social media.