What was filed
The complaint is Document 1 in No. 1:26-cv-12242, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, filed October 6, 2026. It runs 11 pages. Counsel for the plaintiff is Sanders Law Group. The plaintiff demands a jury trial. (Compl. pp. 1, 10 to 11.)
The plaintiff is Julien Pepy, a professional photographer and French citizen based in Paris. The defendant is Alyssa Beth Interiors, LLC, an Illinois limited liability company with its principal place of business in Chicago, which the complaint says operates the Instagram account alyssabethincolor. (Compl. paras. 3, 5 to 6, 10.)
What the complaint alleges
The works are two photographs of a cherry cola toned bathroom vanity with a marble sink, one head-on and one from the side, both first published August 15, 2023 and registered as VA 2-383-629 (January 11, 2024) and VA 2-364-862 (September 2, 2023). It alleges both appeared in a single Instagram post on the account on or about January 18, 2024, that Pepy first observed them on March 7, 2025, and that counsel sent a cease-and-desist and payment demand on or about March 25, 2025 that was not resolved. It alleges the account is used to promote the defendant's business and, on information and belief, that the defendant is not entitled to the 17 U.S.C. 512 safe harbor. (Compl. paras. 2, 20 to 23, 28 to 29, 36 to 41, 54, 69 to 70.)
Counts and relief
The single count alleges willful direct infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501. The prayer seeks actual damages and profits under 17 U.S.C. 504(b) or statutory damages for each work under 17 U.S.C. 504(c), an injunction under 17 U.S.C. 502(a), fees and costs under 17 U.S.C. 505, and interest. No damages amount is stated. (Compl. paras. 73 to 82; pp. 10 to 11.)