ST. LOUIS (CN) - A&E TV and its Lifetime Entertainment subsidiary swiped copyrighted photos and used them on the "Project Runway" TV show, photographer Marcie Cobbaert claims in Federal Court.
At issue are at least four photos that Cobbaert took during a photo shoot with Laura Kathleen Planck, a contestant on "Project Runway." Planck is also named as a defendant.
Cobbaert says the photos were prominently displayed as Planck's work, and that each one was stamped with the false claim that it belonged to Lifetime.
"Since creating the photographs, plaintiff has at all times been the owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to the copyright for the photographs," Cobbaert says in her complaint.
"Defendants have not executed a license agreement covering the photographs or paid plaintiff for defendants' past, present, and future use of the photographs.
"Defendants have used, continue to use, and/or are using a copy or original of the photographs without authorization from or payment in full to plaintiff.
"The photographs have been willfully misused by Planck, Lifetime, and/or A&E to contribute to Laura Kathleen's current popularity among visitors to the website where the pictures are or were located, including Facebook 'likes' approaching 1,000."
Cobbaert seeks damages for copyright infringement. She is represented by Matthew Diehr with Jensen, Bartlett & Schelp.
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