Taylor has brought the case in a California district court against Jamie Nelson, alleging that Nelson sold photos from a Vogue Portugal shoot as “fine art prints” and in a zine, despite never being authorised to do so.
How the dispute started
According to court documents, the issue dates back to July 2024, when the band’s manager, Simone Ubaldi, first contacted Nelson about photographing the band for their album Cartoon Darkness. That shoot never went ahead after the band made it clear they did not want their images used to promote Nelson’s business or sold as merchandise.
The complaint says the band was “very protective” of its image and rejected any non-band-approved commercial use. As a result, the original shoot was cancelled.
A new shoot, with strict limits
Months later, Nelson allegedly approached Taylor directly, asking to photograph her for what was described as an exclusive feature in the July 2025 issue of Vogue Portugal. Taylor agreed — but only for that specific magazine use.
The lawsuit claims Taylor never gave permission for the images to be sold, licensed, or used in any other commercial way.
The shoot took place in May, and the photos ran in the magazine as planned. Problems reportedly arose in September, when Nelson sent Taylor and Ubaldi a selection of images and said she wanted to sell them as “fine art prints” on her website.
“We simply would have said no”
Ubaldi says he immediately objected, telling Nelson that Taylor had not licensed her image for prints, zines, or promotion of Nelson’s business. The complaint states that Taylor rejected multiple requests from Nelson to retroactively approve such sales.
In a message included in the filing, Ubaldi allegedly told Nelson:
“If you had been transparent with her in advance of the shoot about your desire to sell the photos, she would have said no. We simply would have said no to the shoot.”
Despite this, Taylor claims she later discovered the images were already being sold online, and that Nelson had also released a zine made entirely of photos from the shoot — including unpublished images.
Claims of harm and confusion
The lawsuit argues that Nelson’s actions were deliberate and done against Taylor’s clear wishes. It also claims the use of the images could mislead fans into thinking Taylor endorsed Nelson’s work or business.
Court filings describe Taylor’s public image as central to her career, pointing to her recognisable punk style and rebellious persona. The complaint says that unauthorised use of her likeness risks damaging her brand, reputation, and income.
Taylor is seeking damages and claims she will continue to suffer harm if the alleged misuse is not stopped. Nelson’s social media accounts, the filing adds, still feature Taylor’s images without permission.
Band news beyond the lawsuit
Outside the courtroom, Amyl & The Sniffers have stayed in the headlines for lighter reasons. The band recently covered an estimated $35,000 in bar tabs for fans in Melbourne after a free show was cancelled at the last minute.
The group has also been open about how Cartoon Darkness reflects their growth, with the band tackling bigger themes like politics, prejudice, and sexism — topics Taylor has said she once felt intimidated to speak about.
For now, though, the focus is on the legal battle, as Taylor pushes back against what she says is the unauthorised commercial use of her image.
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