Photographer Awarded $3.55 Million in Ali Copyright Case

Court doubles $1.6 million verdict with $1.9 million in fees and costs.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:06pm

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A photographer who captured iconic images of Muhammad Ali in the 1970s was awarded a total of $3.55 million in a copyright infringement case against Authentic Brands Group and its subsidiary Muhammad Ali Enterprises. The court doubled the original $1.65 million jury verdict by adding $1.9 million in attorneys' fees and costs, citing the defendants' continued infringement even after being aware of the licensing issues.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of respecting intellectual property rights, even for high-profile public figures like Muhammad Ali. The substantial damages award sends a strong message that unauthorized commercial use of copyrighted photos will not be tolerated, especially when the infringement is found to be willful.

The details

Photographer Michael Gaffney sued Authentic Brands Group and Muhammad Ali Enterprises in 2018, alleging they had exceeded the terms of a 2011 license to use his photos of Ali from the 1970s. Despite being aware of the licensing issues by 2018, the defendants continued to infringe on Gaffney's copyrights through 2015. A jury later awarded Gaffney the maximum statutory damages of $1.65 million. The court then doubled that amount by awarding an additional $1.9 million in attorneys' fees and costs, citing the defendants' 'sophisticated' and 'willful' infringement behavior that required further deterrence.

  • Gaffney licensed photos of Ali to the defendants in 2011.
  • Defendants exceeded the license terms and continued infringing through 2015.
  • Gaffney filed the lawsuit against the defendants in 2018.
  • The jury awarded Gaffney $1.65 million in statutory damages in 2026.
  • The court awarded an additional $1.9 million in attorneys' fees and costs in April 2026.

The players

Michael Gaffney

A photographer who captured iconic images of Muhammad Ali in the 1970s and later sued Authentic Brands Group and Muhammad Ali Enterprises for copyright infringement.

Authentic Brands Group LLC

A brand development, marketing, and entertainment company that was found to have willfully infringed on Gaffney's copyrighted photos of Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali Enterprises LLC

A subsidiary of Authentic Brands Group that was also found liable for the willful copyright infringement of Gaffney's Muhammad Ali photos.

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The takeaway

This substantial damages award underscores that even sophisticated entities cannot simply disregard copyrights and continue to profit from the unauthorized use of protected intellectual property. The ruling serves as a warning to companies that may be tempted to push the boundaries of licensing agreements, especially when dealing with the valuable assets of legendary figures like Muhammad Ali.