Law360 Highlights Glaser Weil's Win in $2.7M Muhammad Ali Photo Infringement Case

Glaser Weil is proud to announce that Law360 featured the Firm’s successful representation of photographer Michael Gaffney in a piece, “How Muhammad Ali’s Ex-Photog Won $2.7M From Brand Co.,” which ran as the lead story in the publication’s trials newsletter and IP Week In Review. The article covers the high-profile copyright infringement case against Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which culminated in a $2.7 million jury verdict in favor of Gaffney.

Gaffney, who served as Muhammad Ali's personal photographer in the late 1970s, sued ABG and its subsidiary, Muhammad Ali Enterprises, for the unauthorized use of 23 of his photographs. These iconic images, including a portrait of Ali widely used in his obituary, were used commercially without permission after the expiration of a licensing agreement in 2015. The jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found ABG liable for direct, vicarious and contributory copyright infringement, determining that the infringement was willful.

Law360 highlighted pivotal moments of the trial, including email evidence showing ABG employees acknowledging that they no longer had the rights to Gaffney’s photos but continued to license the images. Additionally, Gaffney’s testimony about his personal relationship with Muhammad Ali and the rare, personal nature of the photographs played a crucial role in helping the jury understand the value of the works.

A Glaser Weil team led by Robert E. Allen and Jason Linger presented a compelling case that ABG acted with reckless disregard for Gaffney’s copyright. The jury awarded $1.65 million in statutory damages—the maximum allowed—along with additional damages for infringer’s profits and actual damages, totaling $2.7 million.

Access the article on Law360 (subscription required) or view the PDF provided below.

View Article PDF