Guns N’ Roses sued for copyright infringement and manager sued for sexual harassment by photographer
Rock band Guns N’ Roses are facing a copyright infringement suit from a photographer who has also accused their manager, Fernando Lebeis, of sexual harassment.
The lawsuit has been filed by photographer Katarina Benzova, who claims the activity took place while she was working as a freelancer with the band between 2010 and 2022 across over 300 concerts.
The defendants in the case are listed as Lebeis, along with Guns N’ Roses, Gundam LLC (the band’s business and holding company), and Team Brazil.
In the suit, Benzova alleges that Lebeis performed sexual advances towards her, which she claims to have happened on numerous occasions since he began managing the band back in 2016.
After she allegedly rejected him, she claims that he resorted to “name-calling, ridicule, demeaning remarks, humiliation, bullying, and lying.”
Benzova adds that he also allegedly reduced her fee, withheld payments, moved her to cheaper accommodation, and demanded that she pay for travel expenses.
Additionally, her suit claims the band breached copyright terms on her own photos while manipulating various images with the intention of avoiding copyright infringement.
She alleges they did this “through the reproduction, public display, distribution, creation of derivative works, and holding out of Benzova’s photographs for licenses and sale to third party publications after termination of any right to do so.”
Furthermore, Benzova asserts that her attempts to implement written agreements with the band were disregarded. Lebeis reportedly severed connections with her in October 2022, citing multiple reasons, including financial constraints. Benzova suspects Lebeis discriminated against her for rebuffing his purported sexual advances.
In a statement, Guns N’ Roses said: “Ms. Benzova was initially contracted to provide tour photography services for Guns N’ Roses in 2010. She worked with the band for 12 years and was paid and treated extraordinarily well. It was only after her services were discontinued in 2022 that she attempted to claim ownership in photos which her contract clearly states are owned by the band.”
They continued: “The band takes these types of claims very seriously however all evidence establishes these accusations are categorically and unequivocally false. This response from her comes after the band initiated suit against Ms. Benzova for falsely asserting ownership in the photos of the band.”
In a copy of the band’s own lawsuit obtained by Loudwire, Benzova had allegedly “falsely alleged copyright infringement against various persons and entities” in March 2023.
The lawsuit states that Benzova entered a Crew Member Employment Memorandum with Gundam LLC which read, “You acknowledge and agree that the results and proceeds of your services rendered during the Term will be on a ‘work-for-hire’ basis. We shall own the copyrights and all intellectual property rights to all of the video and photographs created by you during the term of your employment. In addition, we shall have the right, but not the obligation to use your name, likeness, voice and biographical material in connection with the results and proceeds of your services hereunder.”
Lebeis has yet to respond to the sexual harassment allegations.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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