KANSAS CITY – A Missouri photographer has filed a lawsuit, claiming media outlets used one of her photographs on their websites without permission.
Stephanie Campbell filed her federal lawsuit on November 3 against Particle Media and Gray Television, citing allegations of copyright infringement under the Copyright Act of 1976.
According to court documents, Campbell, a professional photographer from Lake Winnebago, Missouri, says she owns the exclusive rights to a photograph depicting the reaction of Katie Sowers, the NFL's first openly gay and second full-time woman coach, at the moment of her groundbreaking hire.
Campbell accuses Gray Television, the owner of television stations including KCTV in Kansas City, and Particle Media, owner and operator of the News Break website, of displaying the photograph in question on their websites without her authorization. Her complaint details instances where the photograph was displayed on the defendants' websites, along with articles and advertising.
Campbell is seeking statutory and actual damages plus interest, attorney fees, court costs and other relief. Additionally, she seeks an injunction against the defendants, ordering them to remove any infringing work and prohibiting them from further infringing activities.
She is being represented by David L. Rein Jr., James Kernell and Kyle D. Donnelly of Avek IP in Overland Park, Kansas.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri case number 4:23-cv-00805