OTTO Archive sues Bright Mountain Media, publisher of CafeMom, LittleThings, and MamasLatinas, over eleven photographs

The complaint

OTTO Archive, LLC v. Bright Mountain Media, Inc., No. 9:26-cv-81463 (S.D. Fla.), was filed October 27, 2026 and is assigned to Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. The plaintiff is OTTO Archive, LLC, a New York limited liability company the complaint places in New York County, New York, and describes as a photography distribution network that licenses design, architectural, and interior imagery. The defendant is Bright Mountain Media, Inc. d/b/a CafeMom, d/b/a LittleThings, and d/b/a MamasLatinas, a Florida corporation the complaint places in Boca Raton, Florida. Jurisdiction is pleaded under 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a); venue under 28 U.S.C. 1400(a).

The works

The complaint asserts eleven photographs, identified by OTTO internal reference numbers and called collectively the Work: a portrait, a photograph of a residential compound, and nine photographs of a home. It alleges that one photographer owns the first two and another owns the other nine, that each photograph was registered by its photographer, and that written agreements conveyed to OTTO exclusive rights in the Work, including the rights to reproduce it and to distribute it by sale or licensing, and the exclusive right to pursue infringements, so that OTTO may sue under 17 U.S.C. 501(b). The exhibits identifying the registrations and showing the alleged uses are not publicly available.

Copyright Office records list the portrait and the compound photograph (OT247831 and OT247755) in group registration VA0002232661, registered November 2, 2020, which covers 554 photographs published from January 1 through December 29, 2015. They list the nine home photographs in group registration VA0002292354, registered February 16, 2022, which covers 710 photographs published from January 4 through September 7, 2016.

What the complaint alleges

It alleges that Bright Mountain owns and operates a digital publishing and media company through brands including CafeMom, LittleThings, and MamásLatinas, that it advertises its business through its websites and social media accounts, and that on multiple dates after the Work was registered it displayed or published the Work on its website, social media, or printed media to advertise and promote its business. It alleges that Bright Mountain has never been licensed to use the Work and never contacted OTTO for permission, and, on information and belief, that it found the Work on the internet and copied it rather than seeking a license. It says OTTO or its customer discovered the uses on October 29, 2023, and that OTTO then notified the defendant in writing. It alleges the infringement was willful, pointing in part to the copyright notice on the defendant's own website.

Claims and relief requested

The complaint states one count for copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501. It asks for a declaration of infringement and of willfulness; actual damages and disgorgement of profits or, at OTTO's election, statutory damages for each photograph; costs and reasonable attorneys' fees under 17 U.S.C. 505; interest, including prejudgment interest; a permanent injunction, which the count seeks under 17 U.S.C. 502; and other relief the court deems just and proper.