Photo Agency Sues Evangelical Youth Pastor Over Bieber Picture

REDONDO BEACH, CA — A Redondo Beach photo agency filed suit Tuesday against an evangelical youth pastor, alleging that the Zoe Church founder used a picture of himself alongside pop star Justin Bieber on social media without the agency's permission.

Backgrid USA alleges in the Los Angeles federal court complaint for copyright infringement that 39-year-old Chad Veach "violated federal law by willfully infringing Backgrid's copyrights to the Bieber photo by and through its unauthorized exploitation" of the image on Instagram and elsewhere.

A representative for Veach could not immediately be reached.

Backgrid, which is seeking $150,000 in damages, contends it attempted to resolve the dispute prior to litigation, but the parties were unable to come to a resolution.

Zoe Church is a youth-oriented Christian congregation based in Los Angeles.

- City News Service

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