2 Years After LeBron James Settled His Peculiar $1 Million Legal Dispute, Super Model Bella Hadid Gets Sued for Similar Reason

What if someone sued you for using a photo that features only you? Such happenstances are common for celebrities. They get sued for various things, and lately, it has extended to the fair usage of the images showing them. Many times, the corporation which owns the photo or the photographer who clicked it can claim copyright. In the age of social media, such cases are piling up in courts, especially when it comes to celebrities. 

Now Bella Hadid is facing such a circumstance. LeBron James had faced it a year ago. 

LBJ had to face a bizarre lawsuit like Hadid

Chosen Figures LLC is suing the American model, Bella Hadid, and has called for a jury trial. It alleges that she has conducted copyright infringement by using a photograph created by them.

The ramp phenom posted the photo in question to her Instagram story. The plaintiff is claiming that this is an unfair usage because she didn’t use their permission.

This case is in line with what LeBron James went through in 2021. Photographer Steve Mitchell sued the Lakers phenom because King James used one photo clicked by him without permission. His lawyer alleged that this was a misappropriation of the plaintiff’s intellectual property, filing a $150,000 claim for the damages.

The matter stemmed out of the photo of a LeBron James’ dunk over the Miami Heat’s Meyers Leonard. LeBron James’ official page shared the cropped photo of the play.

Copyright attorney Richard Liebowitz sued the athletic maestro, claiming he didn’t pay for the photo and used it without permission. He also wanted a $150,000 payout for each time he had used the photo.

To make matters even more intriguing, the legendary Forward then counter-sued for $1 million and also for the attorney fees.

Both parties then had a hush settlement and the details of it remain unknown. But it does lead to a debate about intellectual property rights.

The logic behind these lawsuits

In Mitchell’s case, as a photographer, he becomes the creator of the photo that displayed James’ thunderous slam. As a content creator, he has the right to license and can also levy a licensing fee. With social media, the ceaseless flow of information can make it tough to manage such copyright issues.

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However, celebrities are always under the scanner. This is why now Hadid is facing a legal matter that will consume a lot of her resources.

Do you think James and Hadid have been rightfully sued? Do share in the comments below.

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