A legal dispute between photographer Jamie Nelson and punk singer Amy Taylor over images from a Vogue Portugal photo shoot has escalated into competing claims over copyright and publicity rights.

Taylor, the frontwoman of the Australian band Amyl and the Sniffers, sued Nelson in federal court in California in December, alleging the photographer attempted to sell “fine art prints” and other merchandise featuring images from a 2025 editorial shoot without permission, commercializing her likeness without consent.

The photographs were taken for a series titled “Champagne Problems,” which appeared in the July 2025 issue of Vogue Portugal.

Taylor in her complaint alleged that Nelson sought permission to sell prints of the images but was told by the band’s management that she did not have authorization to do so. The lawsuit alleged Nelson still promoted and offered prints of the photographs on her website and social media.

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Court Documents: Amy Taylor Response to Copyright Counterclaim
Records from U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Nelson later filed counterclaims, reviewed by Urgent Matter, accusing Taylor and others connected to the band of copyright infringement, court records show.

In a response to the counterclaims, Taylor acknowledged posting images from the shoot on social media but argued the posts were permitted under an implied license or constituted fair use. She asked the court to dismiss the counterclaims and award costs and attorney’s fees.

Separately, Nelson sought a civil harassment restraining order against Taylor in Los Angeles Superior Court, but a judge declined to issue the order earlier this month.

Nelson has said she is the copyright holder of the images and that there was no written agreement restricting her ability to sell prints of her work.

“The events that led me to file these motions arose after a photographic series that I produced, photographed, and independently funded became the subject of disagreement regarding the creation and sale of fine-art prints,” Nelson said in a statement reported by The Music.

“I am the copyright holder of the images, and there was no written agreement restricting my ability to sell fine-art prints of my work."

The broader copyright dispute between the parties is continuing in federal court. A hearing in the case is scheduled for March 19.

Follow along with other lawsuits at Urgent Matter's art lawsuit tracker. 

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