Rihanna Suing Topshop For £3.3million Over NI Image
A photo of the pop star was used on a t-shirt
Rihanna is suing Topshop for $5million (£3.3million) after her photograph was used by the high street store.
The image in question was taken by a freelance photographer, allegedly “without her permission”, during the notorious ‘We Found Love’ video shoot Northern Ireland in 2011.
The ladies’ T-shirt design depicts Rihanna in denim and sporting curled hair and headscarf as she looks into the camera on the streets of Belfast.
Initially labelled as ‘Rihanna Tank’ t-shirts, after complaints the store renamed them as ‘Headscarf Tank Girl’ and later ‘Icon Tank’.
Proceedings are underway at London’s High Court today without Rihanna (real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty) in attendance as her legal team seek $5million damages from Topshop’s owners Arcadia Brand Limited.
The court heard that Rihanna believes the store was attempting to “pass off” the item as being endorsed by the pop singer, potentially damaging her reputation.
Her lawyers are also seeking an injunction to prevent Topshop from "using the mark Rihanna or any confusingly similar name" on current or future goods.
In response, Topshop lawyers have maintained the store has done nothing wrong saying they bought a licence from the photographer who took the image.
The hearing continues and judgement is expected next week.