The complaint
Dennis Morris v. PopMatters Media, Inc., individually and d/b/a www.popmatters.com, and Does 1-10, No. 1:26-cv-10605 (N.D. Ill., Eastern Division), is an eleven-page complaint filed September 1, 2026, ECF No. 1, with a jury demand.
The photograph
Morris alleges he created a photograph of the lead vocalist of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd. that appeared in his magazine A Bitta Pill, and that the magazine and its photographs are registered as VA0001787770, with a registration date of July 13, 2011.
What it alleges
The complaint describes PopMatters, on information and belief, as an Illinois corporation based in Chicago, and alleges that Morris is informed and believes that PopMatters reproduced and displayed the photograph in articles on popmatters.com without authorization. It alleges Morris sent PopMatters a cease and desist letter on or around January 15, 2024 and did not receive a meaningful response. The first claim pleads copyright infringement. The second pleads, on information and belief, vicarious and/or contributory infringement. The third pleads a violation of 17 U.S.C. § 1202, alleging on information and belief that the defendants removed Morris's attribution and credited the photograph to the band instead.
Morris seeks an injunction requiring removal of the photograph, profits and losses or statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. § 504, a constructive trust, enhanced damages, attorneys' fees under 17 U.S.C. § 505 and/or § 1203, costs, and interest.
On the docket
The docket shows a civil cover sheet and a report on the filing of a copyright action, both filed with the complaint on September 1, 2026.