Nicki Minaj Hit With Lawsuit By Photo Agency

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj Sued For Posting Photos Of Herself Without Obtaining Permission

Glitz, glam, and paparazzi flashes make the lives of celebrities seem so appealing! But, ironically, those same paparazzi may end up costing superstar rapper Nicki Minaj a ton of money! Nicki (real name Onika Tanya Maraj) is being sued by Splash News – a well-known photography agency based in Los Angeles – for simply posting pictures of herself on Instagram.

However, it’s not as simple as it seems. The suit claims that Nicki posted photos taken by their agency without obtaining permission first. Yes – she has to get permission to post her own face and body! The copyright infringement lawsuit reads:

“Nicki Minaj or someone acting on her behalf copied seven different photos – including ones depicting Minaj in a multi-colored Oscar De La Renta gown outside of the Harper’s Bazaar Party in New York City, in a plaid Burberry outfit in New York City, at a NYFW party in New York, and in a cheetah print outfit – and distributed them for display to her 91 million Instagram followers.”

Splash News makes the claim that her timeline isn’t just any timeline; Nicki Minaj’s feed is designed to make money. Because photographers are paid to license their work in magazines, etc., they feel Nicki should cough up $150K for pictures of herself. The suit continues:

“The photos at issue are creative, distinctive, and valuable, and because of Minaj’s celebrity status, [as well as] the photographs’ quality and visual appeal, Splash News and the photographer it represents stood to gain revenue from licensing…Minaj uses her Instagram feed for the purpose of promotion—specifically, to promote her business interests, products, and ventures; to promote and sell the products and services of others. More than that, she uses it to maintain and increase her visibility and desirability as an endorser, actress, model, and entertainment personality; and to promote her persona and celebrity status. In short, every one of Minaj’s Instagram posts is fundamentally promoting something to her 91 million followers…[Splash News is] seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringement.”

Twitter user @PaolaAudrey commented on the lawsuit, adding that oftentimes paparazzi take the photos without the celebrity’s permission to do so. She tweeted:

“It’s incredibly ironic to be photographed without your consent and sued when you post the said pictures.”

Do you think Nicki Minaj should have to pay to post flicks of herself? Let us know in the comments.

Written by Miata Shanay