BackGrid USA sues two individuals doing business as Bonnie Clyde over a Kendall Jenner photograph allegedly displayed on the eyewear brand's Instagram account

The complaint

BackGrid USA, Inc. v. Yuan, No. 2:26-cv-12933 (C.D. Cal.), was filed November 4, 2026, ECF No. 1, with a jury demand. BackGrid USA, Inc. is described as a California corporation with its principal place of business in El Segundo, California. The defendants are Jon Yuan and Jeffrey Lee, both d/b/a Bonnie Clyde, whom the complaint describes, on information and belief, as brothers doing business together as Bonnie Clyde and as California residents, and Does 1 through 10.

The work

The complaint describes BackGrid USA as a celebrity photograph agency and says it owns the copyright in a photograph of Kendall Jenner (the Jenner Photo), that it registered the photograph with the United States Copyright Office within three months of first publication, and that the Office issued Registration No. VA 2-428-739. It says a copy of the registration certificate is attached as Exhibit A.

The Copyright Office record for Registration No. VA 2-428-739 is a group registration of 52 published photographs from set BGUS_3039583, titled "Kendall Jenner shops till she drops in Paris!" and published September 24, 2024, with a registration date of December 20, 2024. It lists Nacer Aissaoui as the author of the photographs and BackGrid USA, Inc. as claimant by written agreement.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint alleges that in 2016 the individual defendants started Bonnie Clyde, a sunglass and eyewear brand, and that they own, control, and operate the Instagram account @bonnieclyde, which it says has over 146,000 followers, and own the website bonnieclyde.la. It alleges they induced, caused, or materially contributed to reproduction, distribution, and public display of the Jenner Photo on the Social Media Account without permission, and attaches a screenshot of the infringing post as Exhibit B. It alleges, on information and belief, that they operate and control the account to promote their brand and business and financially benefit from the post through traffic and brand awareness. It says BackGrid USA sent cease and desist letters before filing and received no response, and that the infringement was discovered within three years of filing.

The claims and relief requested

The First Claim for Relief alleges copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501, including direct, vicarious, contributory, and inducement theories, and alleges willful infringement. It says BackGrid USA may recover its actual damages and the defendants' profits or, at its election, statutory damages of up to $150,000 per work infringed. The prayer asks for a permanent injunction, an accounting of profits and actual damages under 17 U.S.C. § 504(a)(1) and (b) or statutory damages, including for willful infringement, under § 504(a)(2) and (c), attorneys' fees and costs under § 505, pre- and post-judgment interest, and other relief.

Docket

The docket shows the complaint, summons requests, a civil cover sheet, a certificate of interested parties, and an AO 121 copyright report. Watch for assignment of a district judge, service on the defendants, and their answer or a motion.