Photographer’s copyright appeal bid dismissed
The copyright dispute between renowned photographer Trevor Stuurman and women's art group Woza Sisi Collective has taken a dramatic turn, with Stuurman facing a costly legal setback after unsuccessfully challenging a court order that halted his exhibition in May.
City Press reports that Woza Sisi alleged that Stuurman’s exhibition, Your Beauty Is Our Concern, which was scheduled to run in Cape Town from April to May, unlawfully copied their concept and title from their acclaimed 2023 exhibition, Your Beauty Is My Concern.
The collective argued that Stuurman appropriated their concept and title, changing just one word, without consultation or acknowledgment.
In a judgment handed down last week, the Western Cape High Court dismissed Stuurman’s application for leave to appeal the interim order that stopped his exhibition in May.
The court further ordered him to pay the legal costs of the six-member collective led by photographer Tsholofelo Kodisang.
The court found that Stuurman’s application lacked merit and had no reasonable prospects of success, as his case failed to raise important legal questions requiring higher court review.
The judgment clarified that May’s order was temporary, designed to prevent further distribution of Stuurman’s exhibition pending the matter’s resolution.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
