Judgment reserved in Playboy copyright action over Kate Moss photos

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Ms Justice Marie Baker reserved judgment in Playboy’s Irish High Court copyright action over photographs of Kate Moss. The proceedings were reported on 9 December 2014.

Playboy sought damages, alleging that entertainment.ie infringed its copyright by publishing an entry linking to exclusive photographs without permission on 3 December 2013. The company said the images were intended for its 60th anniversary edition and showed Moss nude or partially clothed. It alleged that publication of the link had destroyed the exclusivity of the photoshoot.

Addressing the court on 8 December 2014, Yvonne McNamara, representing the defendant, said her client had discovered images of Kate Moss online and posted the link as a lighthearted gesture. She said the link was removed soon afterwards because of concerns about taste, once the defendant’s managing director learned of it. Counsel also said Harper’s Bazaar had discovered and used the link. The report said the link had been fully removed by 23 December 2013.