Indiana Intellectual Property Law News
Paris-based photographer Julien Pepy has filed a lawsuit against Angie’s List, Inc., also known as Angi, for alleged copyright infringement. The case, filed in the Southern District of Indiana, highlights the growing concerns around digital content use and copyright protections.
Julien Pepy, a professional photographer renowned for his distinctive images, claims that Angi, a major digital marketing company operating under the Instagram handle “@angi,” used his copyrighted photographs without permission. According to the complaint, Pepy’s works were displayed on Angi’s Instagram account in August 2023 without any authorization.
Pepy’s lawsuit alleges that Angi displayed three of his photographs—showcasing various angles and details of bathroom vanities—on its account. The complaint emphasizes that these images were not only displayed but were also distributed commercially, contradicting copyright laws that protect creators’ rights.
The lawsuit cites violations under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §101 et seq., and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. §1202(b). Pepy is seeking both actual damages and statutory damages, depending on the court’s findings. Additionally, he is pursuing claims for the removal and alteration of copyright management information, alleging that his credit was omitted from the displayed images.
The case has been assigned to Judge Sarah Evans Barker and Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore in the U.S. District Court of Southern Indiana, and assigned Case No. 1:24-cv-01209-SEB-MJD.