Michael Gaffney vs. Muhammad Ali Enterprises Llc Et Al

Case Background

On May 21, 20119, Plaintiff Michael Gaffney filed a Copyright Infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, New York Southern (Foley Square)[Case number: 1:18cv8770]. This case was assigned to Judge George B. Daniels and referred to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.

Cause

Photographer Michael Gaffney filed a lawsuit against Muhammad Ali Enterprises LLC (MAE), Authentic Brands Group (ABG), and other defendants, accusing them of willfully infringing on his copyright-protected photographs of Muhammad Ali. As Ali’s photographer from 1977 to 1978, Gaffney captured thousands of iconic images showcasing the legendary boxer’s career and personality. These photographs held immense historical and commercial value, with rights solely belonging to Gaffney. Despite the expiration of a licensing agreement in 2015, MAE and ABG reproduced, distributed, and publicly displayed these photographs without Gaffney’s authorization. The defendants used the images extensively on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Furthermore, they licensed these photographs to third parties, such as TAG Heuer, for advertising campaigns and product promotions, including the promotion of a limited-edition Muhammad Ali watch. The defendants removed Gaffney’s copyright management information (CMI) from the photographs and falsely replaced it with their own branding. These actions constituted clear violations of intellectual property rights and copyright laws, as outlined in the Copyright Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Injuries

The defendants’ actions caused substantial harm to Michael Gaffney’s intellectual property rights, reputation, and livelihood. Gaffney’s works, widely recognized for their artistic and cultural significance, were used without proper attribution or compensation. The removal