Renowned tattoo artist Kat Von D appeared in a California federal court this week as a part of an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit. The artist is facing allegations regarding a tattoo she created, which features the legendary musician Miles Davis. The accuser contends that Von D’s tattoo design infringes upon the copyright of a specific photo.
On the second day of the trial, Von D testified that in her industry, securing a license for reproducing a tattoo from a copyrighted image is not a routine practice. She further stated, “nobody” in her field goes through this licensure process when creating a tattoo based on a copyrighted photo.
When it comes to infringements in the realm of tattoo artistry, this case adds another layer to the complex fabric of copyright law. It brings forth the question of copyright’s reach into the physical and personal canvases of body art.
For additional information, details on the trial’s progression are available in the full report on Law360.