Photographer Sues Coffee Store for Utilizing Cartoon Model of Her Picture on Cups

A photographer has filed a lawsuit towards a espresso store for allegedly utilizing a cartoon model of her picture of a protester on its cups and luggage with out consent.

Professional photographer Sharon Rose Vanygriff Christenson has sued Cache Coffee and More, which is predicated in Logan, Utah, for copyright infringement over the usage of her picture on its merchandise. Jamie Buttars, who’s one the house owners of the espresso store, can also be named in the lawsuit.

According to a report by The Salt Lake Tribune, Christenson captured a photograph in October of a protestor carrying a hand-written signal that learn ”I really like my espresso fascism free” at a “No Kings” rally in Cache Valley, Northern Utah.

The photographer’s lawsuit alleges that Cache Coffee and More — which describes itself as a “patriot-owned” enterprise — then shared her picture on Facebook with the protester’s face scribbled over. The edited picture was posted on the social media platform alongside the caption: “I normally don’t feed the trolls, however, he went out of his way to make a special sign just for Jamie.”

The grievance says the photograph was faraway from Facebook after Christenson filed a request with the social media platform to take it down. Court paperwork, cited by the information outlet, additionally declare that Christenson warned Cache Coffee and More that the photograph was copyrighted and the corporate couldn’t use it with out her consent.

However, the photographer alleges that Cache Coffee and More continued to make use of the image, creating its cartoon model for a espresso label, with the protester’s signal studying: “I love my coffee caffeine free.” According to the grievance, filed in U.S. District Court, the espresso store additionally has used the picture on its cups and luggage. The Salt Lake Tribune experiences that the corporate’s web site was nonetheless promoting a decaf roast that includes the cartoon of the photograph on its label on Saturday — though it now not seems to be accessible.

The lawsuit, filed within the U.S. District Court for Utah, alleges that Christenson is entitled to as much as $30,000 in statutory damages for copyright infringement. It additionally seeks as much as $150,000 in extra damages, claiming Cache Coffee and More willfully infringed her copyright by persevering with to make use of the picture after Facebook eliminated it from the corporate’s account.

Previously, PetaPixel reported on an expert photographer taking authorized motion towards a college espresso store, alleging that it used her photograph of a blueberry muffin with out permission.

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