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 wee wee-wee

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I'd have to sniff it first.

By Good GirlRi

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Rihanna is a sweet girl that has great talent . Hate all you want but her songs are hits . Many here need to look in the mirror .

Saturday 25 June

By New York

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Sweet???? Sings about loving S&M??? No talent there. Never was , never will be. Sorry. Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Alicia Keyes, etc that is talent. Not the likes of Rhianna.

By lita

S&M is fun she knows what to sing about.

By DarkSun

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In regards to previous posters, it is a song. If you do not like her, do not buy her music; CD, download, watch the videos. EVERYTIME anyone watches / listens to anhyones music, it is more money in the bank for them.. As far as the artist who is sueing, yes, get your money, yet Rihana is NOT the one 'creating' her videos.

By Karin

Thank GOD she's in the news-not a KARDOUCHIAN in sight!

By cillastem

Pallus should be sued because that image had been used in movies way before he used it in a video. The only way he can win if he get alot of ignorant people listening to this case. Like the people below who replied to this story.

Also if you people are so stupid that you beleive that everrything you see and hear in a movie and music is real then your are the one who are truely the ones with low intelligence.

By Cindi

Heck, back in the early 80s the idea "sticks and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains excite me" was one of our most popular T-shirt designs in Key West . . . . guess we need to find the originator of that to really get down to the basics of "stealing ideas"

By Richard Ott

I hope Rihanna creates more music videos in which
nobody else can claim she copied their designs
from here on out, if people can't steer away from
the sexuality and controvercial aspects of them.
All that should really matter is her tracks are
fun and energetic dance beats, S & M included!

By gposner29

Sue her for M & M or B & D....
She'd have to pay me to watch her.
Why hasn't her genius boyfriend slapped her silly lately?

By phoenix

rhianna needs a witch doctor to drive the demons out of her oo ee aah aah aahoo ee walla walla bing bang.

By thomvideo

She and the hundereds of other no talent "performers" flooding the airways are the result of the get rich quick, reality show mentality that pervades the minority populations of this country. Under the guise of offering "opportunities" to this segment of our population all that has happened is we send them the message that they can be successful "stars" by not having to actually have any talent nor work for it.

By Jack

OMG Bunch of unhappy haters. I can only say if it was copied she will pay for it, not her fault but producers, if her music was so bad as you guys are saying she wouldn't be near as successful as she is, and if there is something wrong about her it would be her red long hair but I guess she likes it. I don't get it, Rihanna you are a beutiful woman please go back to darker shorter haircut, loved it, love you.

By tammy

ha ha ha ha ! good! rihanna sux!

By Tony

Truly boring and vulgar: Can you say orchestrated cultural suicide?

By JESSIE

IT STARTED WIT JOPLIN THEN DWINDLED 2 SUMMER FROM A HIPPIES ESCAPADES WITH A PREACHER SON 2 THE DEFLOWERING OF A CHURCH GIRL BY HER PASTOR JANIS WAS THE KEY AND DONNA THE TREASURE AND SHENA EASTON S SUGAR WALLS PANDORA S BOX NOW EVERY OTHER QUIRK IS TRYING 2 OUT DO THE OTHERS DEPLETING FANTASIES SON OF A PREACHER MAN WAS THE CRACK N LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY SPLIT IT OPEN NOW EVERY FEM IS PROUD 2 EXPRESS THERE INNER CIRCLE

Who is her manager anyway??? I"d fire him.

By Lois

Hope she loses. It might shink her big ego ! No talent and gets by on her beauty. By the way, if she wins, tell her to get herself a decent wig and get rid of that clown wig she is using ..

By anitra evans

SO many RACIEST IGNORNANT people on here, every time this site mentions anything about a young black artist people stereotype its so annoying we are in 2011!!!!!! and who uses the word COLORED anymore..besides some OLD RACIEST INORNAGNT IDIOT!!!!

By Bud

Man , that is one ugly woman . YUCK !

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