Rihanna Wins Suit Against Topshop

WWD has reported that Rihanna has won the suit she filed against Topshop for selling a T-shirt emblazoned with her face.

A source previously said, "Rihanna's management asked Topshop a number of times to stop selling her image and were told, 'We do what we want.' They buy the pictures from a photographer, but they do not pay the artist licensing fees. Unfortunately, UK law does not protect the artist.

A judge at Her Majesty's High Court wrote a statement saying that a "substantial number" of Topshop customers were likely to have "false belief" that the T-shirt was authorized by the singer.

The judge, Mr Justice Birss, said: "Although I accept that a good number of purchasers will buy the T-shirt without giving the question of authorization any thought at all, in my judgment a substantial portion of those considering the product will be induced to think it is a garment authorized by the artist.

"The persons who do this will be the Rihanna fans. They will recognize or think they recognize the particular image of Rihanna, not simply as a picture of the artist, but as a particular picture of her associated with a particular context, the recent 'Talk That Talk' album.

"For those persons, the idea that it is authorized will be part of what motivates them to buy the product. I am quite satisfied that many fans of Rihanna regard her endorsement as important. She is their style icon. Many will buy a product because they think she has approved of it.

"Others will wish to buy it because of the value of the perceived authorization itself. In both cases they willhave been deceived. This would clearly be damaging to Rihanna's goodwill."

The judge, however, did not make an assessment of damages. According to court documents, the total value of Rihanna's claim is stated be above 15,000 pounds, or $22,954 at current exchange.

Topshop said it was "surprised and disappointed by the judgment handed down today," adding that it would "robustly dispute the judge's decision" and consider all options available, including an appeal.

"We feel that the fact that Rihanna has shopped, worn and had a relationship with Topshop for several years appears to have been detrimental to our case. There was no intention by Topshop to create the appearance of an endorsement or promotion," it added.