A Metro Detroit artist is suing the New Orleans Pelicans, alleging the professional basketball team copied his work and posted it on social media last year.
A complaint was filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit by New York law firm Jayaram Law PLLC on behalf of Franklin artist Tyrrell Winston. The complaint seeks a jury trial for damages and legal costs.
Officials for the basketball team were not immediately available for comment on Monday.
Winston made a name for himself using sports materials — preferably used, deflated basketballs that he’s found and old basketball nets to create sculptures that raise questions about community, fame, heroes and what society values. His first solo museum exhibition, “Tyrrell Winston: A Tiger’s Stripes,” was featured at the Cranbrook Art Museum in 2022.
In the filing, Winston accuses the New Orleans Pelicans of copyright infringement. He claims the organization’s staff used art that mimics his renowned basketball sculptures in Instagram posts published in September and October 2024.
In the posts, some of the team’s players are sitting or standing in front of a grid of deflated basketballs attached to a wall.
Through his attorneys, Winston sent the Pelicans organization a cease-and-desist letter, which was ignored, according to court documents.
“As a result of the defendant’s actions, Mr. Winston has been directly damaged, and is continuing to be damaged, by the unauthorized reproduction, publication, distribution, and public display of (his) artwork,” the complaint said. “Defendant’s actions have significantly damaged the value of the artwork, all of Mr. Winston’s other works, and the value of any licenses for his artworks in the relevant markets.”
His lawsuit is the most recent complaint with Detroit ties made by an artist, alleging copyright infringement.
In June, a New York photographer filed a suit against Detroit-based online marketplace StockX, alleging the company used a picture he took of a Kardashian on its website without permission.
In May, Eminem’s music publisher filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging the Detroit rapper’s songs are used on the multinational tech company’s social media platforms Facebook and Instagram without proper licensing.
In January, Eminem’s music publisher sued a Metro Detroit car dealership, alleging it used the rapper’s “Lose Yourself” song in online advertisements for special edition Detroit Lions F-150 pickup trucks without authorization.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
@CharlesERamirez