Influencer Should Face Creator’s Vibe-Copying Suit, Judge Says

An influencer’s first-of-its-kind lawsuit accusing another creator of copying her Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon.com Inc. Storefront posts should move forward, a Texas judge said.

Sydney Nicole Gifford sufficiently alleged that Alyssa Sheil misappropriated her likeness and violated copyright law by intentionally creating content “virtually indistinguishable” from Gifford’s without referencing her name or username, Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell said in a report and recommendation docketed Friday.

The matter now goes to US District Court for the Western District of Texas Judge Robert Pitman for final disposition.

Gifford sued Sheil in April, alleging Sheil replicated her social media photos and videos, imitated ...