(EXCLUSIVE) Famed Photog Hits Oprah & OWN With Federal Lawsuit

Another lawsuit for media mogul, Oprah Winfrey. Oprah is accused of screwing over a world renowned photographer by broadcasting his images without ever getting permission — and now he has served her with a federal lawsuit demanding an injunction against OWN from continuing to illegally show his photos, theJasmineBRAND.com exclusively reports.

A world renowned photographer, Harvey Edwards, has filed a federal lawsuit against Harpo productions and American Ballet Theatre dancer Misty Copeland.

Misty Copeland

Reportedly, Edwards explains that Misty was promoting herself and her ballet through a video on her website back in August 2014. He says in the video, three of his images are featured on the wall behind her during the eight minutes she dances.

The photographer says that video was then used in a Dr. Pepper commercial in which Copeland was featured, without his consent to show his images over and over on television.

He claims that he reached out to her manager who claimed neither her or Copeland had granted the rights to the video to any company.

Then in September 2014, the video was reportedly used again used in a promotional video for a TV special that is to air on the Oprah Winfrey Network in which Copeland will be the focus.

Edwards says neither Copeland or one of her agents gave the video to OWN for the piece. According to the court documents, he blames Oprah’s network along with Copeland for infringing on his copyrights for his artwork featured in her promotional video.

He has hit Oprah and the ballet dancer with the suit demanding an injunction against them from continuing to post or rebroadcast the show with the video included in it.

Edwards calls Oprah’s conduct immoral, unethical and oppressive. He accuses her and her network of causing him substantial monetary loss and is suing for unspecified damages due to O’s infringement of his work. See the court docs.

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