Rihanna Facing Another 'S&M' Lawsuit

By Kelly Fisher Posted Jun 24th 2011 08:45AM

Rihanna's controversial music video for 'S&M' has landed her in hot water yet again. This time around, photographer Phillip Paulus is suing the singer for copyright infringement.

According to RadarOnline.com, Paulus alleges that Rihanna identically replicated his series of photographs, called 'Paperworld,' in the racy video without his permission.

The scene in question depicts Rihanna, dressed in a large, fluffy gown against a wall, and is covered in plastic and surrounded by large black 'X' marks. Paulus claims one of his photographs is extremely similar in both concept and execution.

"For legitimate reasons the use of copying Paulus' work over a million times requires an agreement that protects the copyright and the achievements and creations of our client which has never been given by our client, neither to the artist Rihanna nor to her label Universal Music," Paulus' lawyer said in a statement. "According to this, the copyright laws of our client has been infringed and the worldwide million-wise exploitation of the video 'S&M' is unlawful."

Paulus also released a statement of his own regarding Rihanna and the lawsuit.

"Why a worldwide celebrity is not able to afford a creative director, who creates individual concepts and stagings, is incomprehensible for me," Paulus said. "To create new things within the creative cosmos, you can only expect this to come from a real genius, there is no doubt about that."

He adds that the singer and her label should be embarrassed that they copied another artist's work.

"...Every other creative professional should realize how supremely embarrassing it is to copy the work of colleagues from the artistic world and then to be praised for it," he said.

This is the second 'S&M' lawsuit for Rihanna and Universal. Photographer David LaChapelle sued over the video in February, claiming it copied the "composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colors, props, settings, decors, wardrobe and lighting" of his work.

Tags: rihanna

Comments

(42)

Friday 24 June

By JBaer

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Rihanna and her crew should be sued for making wack music.

By Fritz

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she is a "wanna-be white" chimpanzee skank.

Saturday 25 June

By awraaw

'ebibiz"
"
Finally (48 hours) time limit to buy.

A F, A r m a i n i，e d h a r d y, l a c o s t e,t s h i r t s -12

A I R M A X 2 0 1 1,s h o e s -35

A F,E D H A R D Y , b i k i n i -17

C O A C H B A G,C H A N E L B A G-35

O a k e y ， c o a c h , g u c c i , A r m a i n i，s u n g l as s -15

Tips (48 hours after the special product is invalid)

'ebibiz"

)(+Y*)+YU

By GREG

LIKE MANY COLORED SINGERS TODAY, SHE IS TALENTLESS AND HAS TO PARADE AROUND HALF NAKED LIKE A DOG IN HEAT IN STAGE TRYING TO LOOK LIKE A WHITE GIRL. SHE IS NO DIFFERENT BEYONCE, AMBER ETC.

By Flip

Why hasn't she been sued by Depeche Mode for ripping off "Master and Servant"?

By ambariton

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Because she doesnt write her own music, nor is she anywhere near the production. Maybe they were given the credit by the producers,( I dont have the album to check the liner notes) because im sure they would be pretty hot if they just stole it.

By Frank N. Stein

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Just because both songs are about S&M, doesn't mean she ripped anything off from Depeche Mode!! The songs aren't even remotely similar!

By cody

Because Rihanna's use of 'S&M' in the title in no way reflects Depeche Mode's use of 'Master and Servant'. Rihanna is deliberately using 'S&M' to reflect the ideas of Sadomasochism; which extend beyond the realm of just masters and servants.

By Corinne

Rihanna has turned her talent into an obscene disaster which hopefully our young adults has enough sense to look away and consider the video trash. I hope Paulus wins and gets enough money, so she and her dirty minded advising staff can never make a video again.

By Aly

...What talent?

By colleen

She certainly sends mixed messages doesn't she? Hit me--don't hit me. Art imitates life.

By ecteeach

I agree with the dirtyness of her videos and I believe after she and Chris Brown falling out. She act as if she has nothing to turn too. It seems she is in a race with chris. I never thought she was a great performer anyways

By sally

i just think its ironic that shes singing bout chain and whipps exciting her and how much she likes it but when she got slapped around she calls the cops.

By OfAlaska

I can't get over the feeling that this woman, although good looking, has very low intelligence and self-esteem. She's probably getting her ears pinned-back by that Brown clown right this minute, and she has never sung about anything half-way intelligent in her life. She would have made a good hoe, though.

By I do

I agree, except for the good looking part....

By VCollier

What u have done and said about Rhianna, is already done unto u. I feel sorry 4 people like u that hate on someone 4 absolutely no reason at all. It's pathetic.

By themeeker

She should be sued for the retarded clown hairdo.

By Steve

She is sick and disgusting. Wait till a Conservative president gets back in office, She or he will bring down this filth

uh ok, shes not a great artist but I think a "conservative" President would not have the time or the care to "bring down" Rihanna. Just like the president now, he or she will have more important things to do, like crossing the street. Its just silly to bring politics into this. Silly.

By Latara_AKA_T-Tat

I'm glad she's getting sued. I don't like her! and NO I'm not hating, I just don't like her!

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