A copyright infringement dispute between the estate of a prominent British photographer and popular worldwide restaurant chain Hard Rock Café has drawn to a close.
The dispute, which first arose in September this year, related to a famous photograph of late musician David Bowie.
According to reports, the photograph in question – best known for its appearance on Bowie’s 1973 Aladdin Sane album cover – was first taken by British photographer Brian Duffy in the early 70s.
However, the image was allegedly used by Hard Rock Café without permission in one of its restaurants.
Reports suggest that Hard Rock Café placed an enlarged version of the photograph in the front entrance and guest rooms of one of its hotels in Palm Springs, California.
Once this was discovered, Mr Duffy’s estate challenged Hard Rock Café on grounds of copyright infringement.
In a bold claim, it said that the restaurant chain should either pay damages of up to $150,000 (£113,000) for every instance of infringement, or else pass on the profits or gains ‘brought about’ by the infringement.
Reports suggest that the matter has since been solved out of Court for an undisclosed sum.
On Thursday 16 November, a US District Judge reportedly signed an order stating that legal action had been ‘discontinued’.
The news came after both parties reported that the action “has been, or will be, settled.”