Playboy suing Harper's Bazaar over Kate Moss 'bunny girl' pictures
The British supermodel posed as the cover star for the men’s magazine’s 60th anniversary issue
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Playboy magazine are suing Harper’s Bazaar for allegedly using photographs of Kate Moss dressed as a ‘bunny girl’ without permission.
The British supermodel posed as the cover star for the men’s magazine’s 60th anniversary issue. The shoot also marked Moss’ 40th birthday and celebrated her 25-year career.
In the court documents, issued by Playboy Enterprises International to the fashion magazine’s publishing house Hearst on Friday, it is claimed that the editors at Harper’s Bazaar not only posted a photograph of Moss dressed in its trademark Playboy bunny ears and leotard online without consent, but the publication also linked to a feature published on a separate website with nine copyrighted nude images of the star embedded within it.
Playboy is seeking $150,000 (£91,000) per photograph for copyright infringement.
The 18-page series was originally shot by acclaimed fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
Editorial director Jimmy Jellinek said of the issue when the images were first debuted at the start of December 2013: “Playboy's anniversary edition is a testament to 60 years of beautiful women, discerning taste, sexual emancipation, ground-breaking fiction and world-changing journalism.
“Having Kate Moss, a global icon and the most important supermodel of the past 25 years, appear on our cover makes this issue the perfect way to launch Playboy's next 60 years.”
Editor-in-chief Hugh Hefner added: “From its beginning, Playboy has stood for freedom of speech, freedom of choice and freedom of the press. I am so proud to celebrate this anniversary as the magazine continues its mission to promote these core values many decades later.”
Representatives at Harper’s Bazaar are yet to issue a statement with regards to the suit.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments