What once seemed like a little case of copyright infringement that would disappear quickly is actually becoming something bigger for Rihanna.
A federal judge found that celebrity photographer David LaChapelle's copyright infringement claim had merit, and that Rihanna's "S&M" video contained similar "angles, poses and lighting" as his work. Evidence was also presented that suggested storyboards for the video contained LaChapelle's photographs.
So the legal matters are moving ahead, and so is Rihanna. But not with the lawyers she was using before her motion to dismiss the case was denied. She fired the team she had from New York's Pryor Cashman law firm and replaced them with Paul Kilmer from Holland & Knight.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that the case has been referred to a magistrate judge for a settlement. Maybe David LaChapelle will get a big payday out of this whole ordeal.
