The plaintiff in this copyright infringement lawsuit is a retired independent journalist from the UK. His work is focused on social issues such as policing, homelessness, drugs, racial and social conflict, social exclusion, and environmental protection. He is described as “the riot photographer’s riot photographer.”

The defendant is an Indianapolis-based investigation firm that allegedly used one of the plaintiff’s photographs on its website without permission. The Complaint (below) indicates that the parties have been in contact but unable to negotiate a reasonable license. Presumably the cost of a reasonable license will go up now that a lawsuit has been filed, but let’s see whether their fee negotiations are helped by the filing, perhaps now with the input of an insurer who might be responsible for the cost.

Stay tuned for updates.

Hoffman v. Lauth Investigations International Inc

Court Case Number: 1:23-cv-01678-JPH-MKK
File Date: September 18, 2023
Plaintiff: David Hoffman
Plaintiff Counsel: Michael A. Swift of Maginot, Moore & Beck, LLP
Defendant: Lauth Investigations International Inc
Cause: Copyright Infringement, Removal of Copyright Management Information
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: James Patrick Hanlon
Referred To: M. Kendra Klump

Complaint: