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Photographer David LaChapelle Sues Rihanna Over S&M Video

Last updated on February 17, 2011 /Photography News/  Photographer David LaChapelle is suing the singer Rihanna, claiming that she ripped him off in the video for her new single, 'S&M.'

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New York on Monday, demands at least $1 million from Rihanna and Island Def Jam for copyright infringement of eight "original photographs conceived and created by" LaChapelle.

The case states that Rihanna's video copied the "composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colours, props, settings, decors wardrobe and lighting" of LaChapelle's work.

In court documents, the photographer claims Rihanna asked director Melina Matsoukas "to create a LaChapelle-esque music video" and says "prior to the hiring of Matsoukas, another well-known director was asked to create a LaChapelle-esque inspired music video for Rihanna and that director rejected the offer."
A source at LaChapelle's studio told celebrity blog Radar that initially fans thought he directed the video, and LaChapelle tweeted: "The next time you make a David LaChapelle music video you should probably hire David LaChapelle."

LaChapelle is not the only artist claiming that Rihanna ripped him off in the 'S&M' video. German fashion photographer Philipp Paulus claims the scene with Rihanna being stuck behind plastic wrap against a press room wall mirrors his Paperworld fashion editorial shot in August 2010. 

 



12 comments:

  1. anne says
    February 6, 2011 at 9:39 AM  

    rihanna's video is a shameful display of lack of imagination


    Ethan says
    February 6, 2011 at 11:02 AM  

    Every thing is a Remix
    http://vimeo.com/19447662


    Anonymous says
    February 6, 2011 at 6:19 PM  

    It is so obvious they copied LaChapelle!


    Anonymous says
    February 6, 2011 at 9:04 PM  

    it's not just lachapelle who was ripped off with this video... rihanna's look and gutts are also very much lady gaga-like...


    Anonymous says
    February 7, 2011 at 4:18 AM  

    ^trolls just love mentioning lady gaga. Pfft, gaga is the queen of ripping off.


    Anonymous says
    February 14, 2011 at 10:46 PM  

    Inspired by, yes. Copied, no.


    Anonymous says
    February 15, 2011 at 4:39 PM  

    The image of the clowns with the woman on the gurney, definitely a rip-off. But the rest of these are pretty standard S&M scenarios, as LaChapelle is obviously aware. I'll buy that his work was an inspiration for Rihanna's team, but when you tap into the image-catalogue of a particular culture (in this case, the BDSM scene), you don't have too much a leg to stand on when it looks like others have borrowed, or stolen, your own ideas.


    Anonymous says
    February 18, 2011 at 6:23 AM  

    I agree with the post above, but http://www.photography-news.com/2011/02/rihannas-s-outrage-new-plagiarism.html you cant deny that doesn't look extremely similar


    Anonymous says
    February 27, 2011 at 9:52 AM  

    I have to agree with above two also. to say "Rihanna's video copied the "composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colors, props, settings, decors wardrobe and lighting" of LaChapelle's work." Is a stretch.......unless you change the "and" to an "or". The Philipp Paulus case however is hard to argue with...it definitely looks copied, not inspired by.


    Anonymous says
    December 14, 2011 at 4:40 PM  

    I do believe that Rihanna was inspired massively by David LaChapelle but I don't think she copied him. In my opinion, the only reason he is pissed about it is because she didn't ask or his permission to create this video using his work as her main motive.


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