As we know, stars are very protective of their images these days — especially when it comes to anything they believe infringes on their brand. That’s why Rihanna went to court in London and sued the big parent company of the Topshop clothing chain (which has a major outlet in Chicago at Michigan and Pearson) for a cool $5 million.
At issue was a T-shirt bearing Rihanna’s image in a photo taken during a video shoot in 2011.
The superstar’s lawyers convinced the High Court in London that the shirt may have damaged her reputation and that the image was “very similar” to pictures of Rihanna used on CD sleeves for one of her albums.
The judge ruled that a “substantial number” of buyers of the T-shirt were likely to have thought the T-shirt was something Rihanna had approved — and knew was being sold by Topshop.
Topshop’s lawyers had claimed the 25-year-old was making an unjustifiable bid to establish a “free standing image right” over use of her picture in the UK.
A ruling on the exact amount awarded Rihanna will come later.
