According to a report from Bloomberg Law, the Detroit Lions are facing a federal lawsuit after allegedly using copyrighted photos of quarterback Jared Goff without proper authorization.
According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, California-based photographer Dennis Lee accuses the Lions of copying and publishing three of his photos on the team’s official social media accounts without purchasing the correct commercial license.
The Photos at the Center of the Case
The images in question aren’t from Goff’s NFL career but rather his high school days between 2011 and 2012, when he played basketball and baseball at Marin Catholic High School.
Lee argues these photos carry unique value because they are among the only known professionally taken images of Goff playing sports outside of football. With Goff’s fame centered around his football career, from starring at Cal to being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and eventually traded to Detroit, photos of him in other athletic settings are considered “rare and valuable.”
What the Lawsuit Claims
Lee says he owns the copyright to the photos and that the Lions knowingly used them without proper licensing.
The complaint alleges that a Lions representative purchased personal, non-commercial licenses for the images through MaxPreps, a popular high school sports photography platform. That license allowed for “personal and/or family use” only, not commercial use on accounts with millions of followers promoting a professional football franchise.
“No one from TDL (The Detroit Lions) ever contacted MaxPreps to obtain a commercial license to use the Goff Photos, and Lee never granted such a license,” the complaint states.
What Lee Is Seeking
Lee is asking the court for both temporary and permanent injunctions that would stop the Lions from copying, displaying, or distributing the photos in any capacity. He is also seeking monetary relief, including damages and any profits the Lions may have gained from the photos’ use.
The Lions’ Response
The Lions have not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit.
Don Drysdale
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