"Kat Von D Prevails in Landmark Copyright Trial Over Miles Davis Tattoo"

A jury found that celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D did not violate a photographer's copyright when she used his portrait of Miles Davis as the basis for a tattoo, ruling that the tattoo, drawing, and social media posts fell within the legal doctrine of fair use. The photographer's attorney plans to appeal, arguing that the images were substantially similar and that the case is about copying protected works, not tattoos. Von D, who considers the tattoo a form of "fan art," emphasized that she made no money from it, while her attorney argued that the lack of commercial gain was essential to the fair use claim.