Seven of Rockefeller Photos' food photograph copyright suits, filed in six federal courts from September to November 2026

What the complaints plead

Each of the seven complaints pleads a single count of copyright infringement by Rockefeller Photos, LLC, described as a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Each alleges that Prepared Food Photos, Inc., formerly Adlife Marketing & Communications Co., Inc., registered and owns the food photographs at issue, and that under a December 12, 2024 agency agreement it gave Rockefeller Photos the exclusive right to license the photographs and to pursue infringement claims. Each alleges that the photographs were displayed without a license to advertise the defendant's business (in the La Placita suit, La Placita's business) and, on information and belief, found them on the internet and copied them, and each alleges willful infringement and seeks damages, attorneys' fees and costs, and a permanent injunction.

The seven suits

Rockefeller Photos, LLC v. Brother's Pizza - Greencastle, LLC, No. 1:26-cv-02545 (M.D. Pa.), filed September 4, 2026. The defendant is described as a Pennsylvania limited liability company that operates a pizza and Italian restaurant in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. The complaint concerns one photograph, of chicken parmesan over spaghetti. The latest docket entries, both dated September 4, 2026, are the summons and a report to the Register of Copyrights.

Rockefeller Photos, LLC v. Merced Food Center, No. 1:26-cv-07145 (E.D. Cal.), filed September 8, 2026. The defendant is described as a California corporation based in Merced, California, that owns and operates a supermarket. The complaint identifies the photographs in an Exhibit A spreadsheet. Merced Food Center filed an answer on October 2, 2026, a standing order was entered October 13, 2026, and the September 8, 2026 new-case notice set an initial scheduling conference for December 17, 2026.

Rockefeller Photos, LLC v. B & V Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Super King Markets, No. 2:26-cv-10225 (C.D. Cal.), filed September 11, 2026. The defendant is described as a California corporation based in Los Angeles that owns and operates eleven supermarkets in Southern California. The complaint identifies the photographs in an Exhibit A spreadsheet. The latest docket entries are the summons, issued September 17, 2026, and a proof of service filed September 24, 2026.

Rockefeller Photos, LLC v. ALBA Restaurant Mansfield Inc, No. 1:26-cv-14297 (D. Mass.), filed September 21, 2026. The defendant is described as a Massachusetts corporation that operates a restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts. The complaint concerns one photograph, of beef prime rib. The latest docket entries are the summons, issued September 22, 2026, and an affidavit of service filed October 1, 2026.

Rockefeller Photos, LLC v. La Placita Supermarket, Inc. and Starprint Publications, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-12564 (D.N.J.), filed September 23, 2026. La Placita is described as a New Jersey corporation based in Union City, New Jersey, that operates supermarkets, and Starprint as a Pennsylvania corporation that designs and prints weekly circulars for grocery stores. The complaint identifies the photographs in an Exhibit A spreadsheet. Both summonses were returned executed, and the answer deadline was extended, with an updated deadline entered October 14, 2026. The case was dismissed on November 5, 2026 (ECF No. 13).

Rockefeller Photos, LLC v. Spicy Affair Incorporated, No. 1:26-cv-13784 (D.N.J.), filed October 22, 2026. The defendant is described as a New Jersey corporation based in Swedesboro, New Jersey, that owns and operates a restaurant in New Jersey. The complaint concerns one photograph, of vegetable kabobs. A summons issued October 23, 2026, and an AO 121 copyright report form was filed November 2, 2026.

Rockefeller Photos, LLC v. Quality Foods Corporation d/b/a Kuhn's Market, No. 2:26-cv-02376 (W.D. Pa.), filed November 3, 2026. The defendant is described as a Pennsylvania corporation based in Pittsburgh that owns and operates eight supermarkets in Pennsylvania. The complaint identifies the photographs in an Exhibit A spreadsheet. A summons issued November 4, 2026, and the clerk sent the copyright report, complaint, and exhibits to the Register of Copyrights the same day.

The Exhibit A spreadsheets that identify the photographs in the Merced Food Center, B & V Enterprises, La Placita, and Quality Foods complaints are not available.

Other Rockefeller Photos suits

Rockefeller Photos, LLC also filed No. 5:26-cv-05125 (D.S.D.) in October 2026 and No. 2:26-cv-02398 (E.D. La.) on October 16, 2026. Federal dockets list other Rockefeller Photos, LLC suits, earlier and in the same period, that this page does not cover, including No. 2:25-cv-04891 (E.D. Pa.), filed August 26, 2025.