The lead singer of Australian punk band Amyl and the Sniffers has launched a lawsuit in the United States, alleging a photographer exploited her likeness for commercial gain without consent.
Legal Action Over 'Fine Art Prints'
Amy Louise Taylor, the vocalist for the award-winning Melbourne group, has filed a formal complaint in the District Court of California. The legal documents name photographer Jamie Nelson as the defendant, accusing her of selling pictures from a Vogue Portugal photoshoot as "fine art prints" and using them to promote her business without Taylor's authorisation.
The dispute has its origins in July 2024, when the band's manager, Simone Ubaldi, first contacted Nelson about a potential shoot for an upcoming album. By August 2024, the arrangement collapsed after the band insisted Nelson must not use their name, image, or likeness to promote her photography business or sell merchandise.
Breakdown of the Vogue Portugal Agreement
Later, in March 2025, Nelson approached Taylor directly with a new proposal: a photoshoot where the resulting images would be published exclusively in the July 2025 issue of Vogue Portugal. Taylor agreed under this specific condition. The shoot took place in May 2025, and the images appeared in the magazine as planned.
However, the complaint states that at no point did Taylor grant Nelson a licence for any other commercial use. The situation escalated on 4 September 2025, when Nelson sent Taylor and Ubaldi a presentation indicating her desire to sell selected images as "fine art prints" on her websites.
Immediately, Ubaldi informed Nelson that Taylor objected and clarified that permission was granted solely for the Vogue Portugal feature. In a follow-up email on 15 September, Ubaldi was unequivocal: "I cannot be clearer about this – [Taylor] does not want you to sell images of her face, or her body as fine art prints." The email stated Taylor would have refused the shoot had she known of these intentions beforehand.
Alleged Retaliatory Exploitation and Lasting Harm
Despite these clear objections, Taylor discovered on 20 September 2025 that Nelson was already selling the prints on her website. The complaint further alleges that Nelson expanded the exploitation by offering a "zine" featuring both published and unpublished images from the shoot.
The legal filing suggests this was done in retaliation for Taylor's demands to cease the unauthorised use. It also notes that Nelson's Instagram and Facebook accounts continue to feature Taylor's images without licence.
The complaint emphasises the value of Taylor's personal brand, describing her image as a blend of "rebellious spirit" and a distinctive Australian "pub rock" aesthetic. It argues that Nelson's actions are likely to cause confusion among fans about Taylor's endorsement and will result in continued harm, including lost profits and damage to her reputation and business interests.
Jamie Nelson has been contacted for comment regarding the allegations.
