Latest news with #GlobalWeatherProductions
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Popular band's frontman sued over 2019 post urging hurricane relief donations
Adam Levine is in some hot water after the Maroon 5 frontman allegedly used copyrighted material in a philanthropic social media post six years ago. Global Weather Productions LLC, a video licensing company, sued Levine over a 2019 Instagram post that sought donations for victims of Hurricane Dorian, Billboard reported. In a federal copyright infringement lawsuit filed Monday, July 28, a copyright owner claimed Levine didn't get permission to share a video showing the storm's damage to the Bahamas. The video, which was included in Levine's post on Sept. 6, 2019, showed Hurricane Dorian's damage to the Abacos Islands. The video appeared to have been pulled from a CNN broadcast with the footage being credited to Brandon Clement, an aerial cinematographer behind the popular storm chasing website WxChasing. However, Global Weather Productions alleges it owns the footage and said Levine didn't buy a license to publish it. 'As a musician and author, defendant has significant experience in copyright matters and is familiar with specific practices including the need to ensure that content used in his posts has been properly licensed,' the company wrote in the lawsuit, per Billboard. 'As a content creator himself, defendant should be particularly sensitive to the unauthorized use of his works.' Global Weather Productions further claimed that Levine 'failed to respond' to their efforts to resolve the matter, according to Billboard. The video company is now seeking damages for Levine's supposed copyright infringement, which could go as high as $150,000. 'Over the last couple weeks, there have been a staggering number of environmental disasters occurring around the world. It is now more important than ever to step up and help,' the caption of Levine's post read, which urged followers to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. 'The President has recently proposed huge cuts in aid to disaster relief; we are making donations and asking you to help us improve the health of our planet overall,' Levine wrote. 'Head to the link in my bio to donate to Amazon Conservation. Support the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help the Bahamas and Carolinas with their efforts to combat Dorian. People around the world need our help!' Global Weather Productions has been on a copyright litigation spree in recent years, filing dozens of lawsuits against publishers of supposedly unlicensed natural disaster videos since 2023, Billboard reported. Some of the company's other targets include new organizations such as Reuters, Univision and NewsNation, as well as individual content creators including model Molly Sims. More music content Original lead singer of iconic metal band dies at 69 Linkin Park to play two shows in Boston, here's how to buy last-minute tickets Controversial rapper slammed for calling LGBTQ+ identities 'trauma response' Rock star eats at Northeast diner — twice: 'It's a great day' All the fall 2025 music acts and performances coming to The Big E Read the original article on MassLive.
Daily Mail
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Maroon 5 star Adam Levine SUED over Instagram post urging fans to give hurricane relief donations
Adam Levine is facing a federal lawsuit over an Instagram post he shared in 2019 urging support for Hurricane Dorian victims. According to court documents, obtained by Billboard, filed earlier this week, the Maroon 5 frontman, 46, allegedly included copyrighted video footage of storm damage in the Bahamas without permission from the owner. The lawsuit, brought by Global Weather Productions LLC, claims Levine used footage taken in the Abacos Islands, one of the hardest-hit areas during the storm, without securing a proper license. The video was originally published on September 3, 2019, by 'professional storm chaser' Michael Brandon Clement and, according to the lawsuit, is owned by Global Weather Productions, a licensing company that has filed multiple similar suits in recent years. Levine allegedly shared the video three days later in a September 6, 2019, Instagram post, which highlighted the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and Carolinas. He also urged his followers to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. But Global Weather Productions says the charitable intent doesn't excuse what it views as a clear case of copyright infringement. 'As a musician and author, defendant has significant experience in copyright matters and is familiar with specific practices including the need to ensure that content used in his posts has been properly licensed,' the lawsuit states. 'As a content creator himself, defendant should be particularly sensitive to the unauthorized use of his works.' The company says it made several attempts earlier this year to contact Levine's team in order to resolve the issue outside of court. According to the complaint, Global Weather Productions reached out in April and followed up again in May, but reportedly never received a response. 'Despite plaintiff's efforts and willingness to address defendant's infringing activity, defendant failed to respond, and plaintiff was forced to seek judicial intervention for defendant's infringing activity,' the suit claims. Now, the company is seeking damages that could total up to $150,000 under federal copyright law. Global Weather Productions has filed dozens of similar lawsuits since 2023, targeting both major media outlets, including Reuters, Univision, and NewsNation and public figures such as model Molly Sims. As of now, Levine has not publicly responded to the lawsuit. Daily Mail has reached out to Levine's representatives, but they have not yet responded. In addition to trying to help raise funds for Hurricane Dorian victims, Levine has been involved in various charitable endeavors from supporting youth mental health to U.S. education programs. Earlier this month, he celebrated his 11th wedding anniversary with wife Behati Prinsloo. The couple share two daughters, Dusty Rose and Gio Grace, six, as well as a two-year-old son, whose name has not been publicly revealed.
