J.Lo Faces $1.35 Million Copyright Lawsuit Over Instagram Photos of Herself

Jennifer Lopez, one of the world’s most famous entertainers, is now at the center of a high-profile legal battle over copyright infringement.

On May 17, 2025, photographer Edwin Blanco and the photo agency Backgrid USA filed two federal lawsuits against Lopez, alleging that she posted nine professionally taken photos of herself on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) without obtaining permission or providing proper credit.

The photos in question were captured at a pre-Golden Globes event held at the iconic Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on January 4, 2025. Lopez shared these images on her social media the very next day with the caption “GG Weekend Glamour.” According to the lawsuit, Blanco and Backgrid claim that Lopez’s use of the images was commercial in nature — pointing out that she leveraged the photos to promote designers, fashion brands, and enhance her own brand visibility.

The plaintiffs are demanding statutory damages of up to $150,000 per photo, which could total a staggering $1.35 million. They have also requested a jury trial to settle the dispute. What’s more, Blanco and Backgrid assert that while Lopez’s team initially engaged in settlement talks and even reached a verbal agreement, the star did not sign a written deal or make any payments.

This is not Lopez’s first brush with copyright-related lawsuits. She was previously sued in 2019 for posting an unauthorized paparazzi photo featuring herself and then-fiancé Alex Rodriguez. The recurring nature of these legal challenges highlights a broader issue in the entertainment industry—celebrities sharing professional photos without proper licensing, often unknowingly infringing on photographers’ rights.

The case underscores the critical importance of obtaining proper permissions before sharing professionally taken images, regardless of the celebrity status of the subject. As social media continues to be a powerful promotional tool for stars like Lopez, the boundaries between personal sharing and commercial use remain a hot topic in copyright law.

Fans and industry watchers alike will be closely monitoring how this lawsuit unfolds, as it could set significant precedents for celebrity social media practices moving forward.