Photographer who sued Kat Von D over a tattoo defined the rationale he did it in first-of-its-kind lawsuit
The photographer who sued Kat Von D over a tattoo defined why he filed what’s believed to be a first-of-its-kind lawsuit.
Katherine von Drachenberg, often known as Kat Von D professionally, is greatest recognized for work as a tattoo artist on TLC actuality TV present LA Ink, which got here out again in 2007.
The 43-year-old – who has now blacked out 80 % of her tattoos – was sued in 2021 by photographer Jeff Sedlik over what he thought was a copyright infringement.
Sedlik claimed Von D tattooed a model of his 1989 photograph of jazz musician Miles Davis on the arm of a pal.
In 2024, the tattooist beat the lawsuit after a jury dominated that the tattoo wasn’t related sufficient to Sedlik’s {photograph} and did not violate copyright. Von D has since stated that does not suppose she is going to tattoo once more.
“We’ve stated all alongside that this case by no means ought to have been introduced,” Von D’s lawyer Allen B. Grodsky acknowledged after the decision.
“The jury recognised that this was simply ridiculous.”
Nonetheless, Sedlik’s lawyer Robert Edward Allen, defined on the time why his consumer was considering of interesting the choice.
“If these two issues will not be considerably related, then nobody’s artwork is secure,” Allen stated.
“It’s about copying others’ protected works.
“It’s not going to harm the tattoo trade. The tattoo police will not be going to come back after anybody.”
In the course of the three-day trial, Von D stated she ‘made zero cash off it’ and that she’s ‘not mass-producing something’.
“I believe I don’t wish to ever tattoo once more, my coronary heart has been crushed via this in several methods,” she added after the victory. “We’ll see with time.”
In 2023, the Mexican-born American artist stated she spent virtually ’40 hours’ blacking out most of her tattoos.
“I had many tattoos that represented part of my life that now not aligns with who I’m in the present day,” she admitted.
“Some persons are advantageous with preserving all these landmarks in time on them — I personally grew bored with waking as much as them, and seeing these fixed reminders each time I regarded in a mirror.
“Additionally, I actually love the aesthetic. I do know it’s not for everybody however it is vitally satisfying to me to see a clear slate once I look down onto my arms.”
As a substitute of getting them eliminated by way of laser like Pete Davidson has performed, she stated she ‘personally wasn’t candidate contemplating how a lot protection I needed to take away’.
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