ST. LOUIS — A scientist and professional photographer accuses a local pest control company of illegally using his photos on its website.
Alexander Wild filed a complaint on Sept. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against Richardson Pest Solutions and its owner, Charles T. Richardson.
According to the complaint, Richardson used photographs of a deer mouse and a collection of ants on the site between 2015 and 2018 without Wild's permission. Wild claims the pest control company violated federal copyright laws by using the photos “to promote the sale of goods and services" and for “advertising and promoting defendant’s business."
Wild registered the photographs with the U.S. Copyright Office in 2009.
Wild attempted to settle with Richardson for nearly two years before filing the lawsuit, the complaint states, but Richardson never responded.
The contested photographs are part of Wild’s portfolio that has been “years in the making.” According to the complaint, Wild is the nation’s "go-to" artist for “entomology subjects, laboratory animals, and other science-related topics.”
Wild seeks damages and profits "attributable to the infringement," plus attorney fees and costs. He is represented by Richard A. Voytas Jr. of Ross & Voytas in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, Case 4:18-cv-01490