Photographer Alan Satterwhite sues Sony Music Publishing over a Stevie Wonder portrait on Instagram

The complaint

Satterwhite v. Sony Music Publishing, LLC, No. 1:26-cv-09776 (S.D.N.Y.), is an eight-page complaint and jury demand filed November 8, 2026, ECF No. 1. The complaint describes Alan V. Satterwhite as a professional photographer in New York, New York who makes a living licensing his photographic works, including for editorial purposes. It alleges, upon information and belief, that Sony Music Publishing, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company with a business address in New York City, and it describes the defendant as a music publishing company, not a record label. The docket shows the case is assigned to Judge P. Kevin Castel.

The photograph

The complaint alleges that Satterwhite is the author of a portrait of Stevie Wonder, which it reproduces, that the photograph is an original work of authorship, and that he obtained a certificate of registration for it, Registration No. VAu 1-455-130. The Copyright Office public catalog lists VAu001455130 as "Group of Photographs A 2021," a group registration of 218 unpublished photographs, registered January 11, 2022, with Al Satterwhite as author and claimant.

What it alleges

According to the complaint, Satterwhite discovered the photograph being reproduced, distributed and publicly displayed on the defendant's Instagram page, and the complaint includes a screenshot. It alleges, upon information and belief, that the defendant needed an iconic photograph of a musician to promote and advertise its goods and services, located the photograph on the internet, downloaded it without authorization, and uploaded it to its computer systems and then to its Instagram page.

The complaint alleges that the infringement was willful because the defendant is a sophisticated media company that understands copyright law and the need to obtain a license, because it was willfully blind to Satterwhite's exclusive rights, and because it acted in reckless disregard of them. It alleges that the use has harmed the potential market for or value of the photograph.

Claim and relief

The complaint pleads one claim for relief, Direct Copyright Infringement, under 17 U.S.C. § 501, based on reproducing, distributing and publicly displaying the photograph.

The prayer asks for (1) a declaration that the defendant infringed, directly or indirectly, Satterwhite's copyrights in the photograph; (2) a declaration that the infringement is willful; (3) actual damages and profits under 17 U.S.C. § 504(b) or, at his election, statutory damages under § 504(c), including damages for willful infringement of up to $150,000; (4) exemplary and punitive damages to deter any future willful infringement; (5) costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys' fees, under 17 U.S.C. § 505; (6) interest, including pre-judgment interest; (7) a permanent injunction against directly or indirectly infringing his copyrights; and (8) such other and further relief as the court deems just and proper. The complaint demands a jury trial.

On the docket

The clerk issued a summons on November 9, 2026, ECF No. 5, and an AO 121 copyright form was submitted for case opening the same day, ECF No. 6.