Photographer Al Satterwhite has sued Sony Music Publishing in federal court in New York, alleging that the company used his photograph of Stevie Wonder in an Instagram post without permission. The post marked the 50th anniversary of Wonder’s Innervisions.
Satterwhite photographed Wonder performing in Los Angeles in 1974. His complaint says one of those images appeared in Sony Music Publishing’s 2023 post, which remains online and references the album’s songs “Higher Ground” and “Living for the City.”
The complaint alleges that the infringement was willful because Sony Music Publishing “is a sophisticated media company that understands copyright law and the need to obtain a license to publish the copyrighted works of others.” Maximum statutory damages for willful infringement would be $150,000.
Satterwhite previously sued Berklee College of Music over alleged infringement of another Wonder photo from the same session. He voluntarily dismissed that case less than two months after filing.
In a separate copyright case, Bauer-Griffin alleged that Gamma, Kanye West and French Montana used audio from a protected 2013 video in “Where They At” without permission. The video captured West walking into a sign, hitting his head and reacting afterward. Bauer-Griffin voluntarily dismissed the suit without prejudice.
