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Topshop Rihanna

The Rihanna T-shirt that could cost Topshop $5 million

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By Jennifer Faull, Deputy Editor

May 18, 2013 | 2 min read

Rihanna is reportedly suing high street giant Topshop for $5m after it sold T-shirts with her face printed on the front without her consent.

The New York Post reported that Rihanna has turned to international law firm Reed Smith to handle the case after her own team failed to come to a deal with Arcadia, Topshop’s parent company, following eight months of negotiations.

A source told the Page 6: "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.

"What is most offensive for Rihanna is that they basically told her, 'Go to hell. We don't care. We are going to continue selling you'. Topshop is now in the United States."

"Even though the UK laws don't protect the artist, she has decided to move forward and sue Topshop," continued the source.

"She has spent almost $1 million in litigation at this point. She says it's the principle, and wants to make a statement about it. They are taking advantage of artists. It is just exploitation. What they are doing is wrong."

Topshop Rihanna

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