The Brooklyn Nets organization was hit with a copyright suit in the Eastern District of New York by a photographer who alleges the team used his photos of the Brooklynettes dance team without authorization.
Professional photographer Stephen Yang alleges the Nets posted two of his photos on the Brooklynettes Instagram account, which the Nets own and operate, according to the complaint filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Yang took the photos June 15, 2021. The Nets posted them on the account the same day without his permission, the complaint alleges.
Yang later registered the works with the U.S. Copyright Office, according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges Yang hasn’t licensed the Nets the right to use the photographs, or assigned any of his exclusive rights in the copyrights to the Nets.
The Brooklynettes perform at Brooklyn Nets home games at Barclays Center, and “serve as ambassadors of the NBA throughout the world, with recent performances in Russia, Turkey, Spain, Italy, England, China, Singapore, South Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, and Brazil,” according to their website.
Cause of Action: Copyright infringement.
Relief: Injunctive relief, damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.
Response: The Nets organization didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Attorneys: Craig B. Sanders in Garden City, N.Y., represents Yang.
The case is Yang v. Brooklyn Nets, E.D.N.Y., No. 22-cv-02077, 4/11/22.
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