Lisa Rinna is speaking out against the $1.2 million lawsuit against her by Backgrid photo agency for posting paparazzi photos on her Instagram page.
In July, Lisa Rinna was sued by Backgrid, an agency that speaks for paparazzi, for infringing the agency's copyrights as she posted their photos on her Instagram account.
Backgrid insisted that Rinna posted eight photos without their permission as the owners of the images. These photos were of herself and her two daughters, Amelia and Delilah Hamlin captured by paparazzi in public locations.
Lisa Rinna at the premiere of Paramount Network's "American Woman," 2018, Los Angeles, California. | Photo: Getty Images
This month, the "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star reacted to the lawsuit during an interview with the Los Angeles Times and had a lot to say about the situation.
Rinna stated that she found the situation shocking because she and her family have always had a good relationship with the paparazzi throughout the years. She further explained:
"I’ve always seen it as a very symbiotic relationship. It was part of the game, if you’re going to be in this business. I’ve been nice, I’ve never fought with them.
Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin and their daughters Amelia Gray and Delilah Belle at Julien's Auctions and Tommy Hilfiger's VIP reception, 2017, Los Angeles, California. | Photo: Getty Images
Rinna was taken aback when Backgrid filed a letter claiming $1.2 million in damages for her Instagram posts. After the "Days of Our Lives" actress refused to pay, the agency decided to sue.
However, unlike other celebrities who have faced similar situations, Rinna is fighting back because she believes the agency weaponized the Copyright Act to make up for revenue lost following the pandemic.
Rinna is not the only celebrity to face lawsuits over copyright infringements.
She argues that the agency is looking for a way to make up for lost revenue since paparazzi have not been able to capture celebrities on their usual days out, such as dinner outs and casual walks through their respective cities.
In the court documents obtained by the LA Times, Rinna's counter file stated the paparazzi could benefit from her images because of her hard work and dedication to her career:
"It is only because of Ms. Rinna's hard work, dedication to her craft and resultant success that her image confers monetary benefits on the Plaintiff."
Furthermore, the document explained because of the nature of the photographs, Rinna believed that an implied license was created that permitted her to use the images without facing a case of infringement.
Rinna also stated she would not have objected to paying a nominal fee, a fee agencies ask celebrities to pay for using their copyright images, for the photographs. However, she believes the agency was asking too much.
Rinna is not the only celebrity to face lawsuits over copyright infringements. Stars like Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, the Kardashians, and Jennifer Lopez have dealt with similar issues.
Lopez was sued for $150,000 in 2019 by Splash News and Picture Agency. They claimed to be owners and exclusive copyright holders of a photo she posted without permission on her Instagram story in 2017.
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