On July 27, 2012, Meg Adams Interior Design, Inc. of Atlanta (“Meg Adams Interiors”) and Lauren Rubinstein Photography LLC of Cumming (“Rubinstein Photography”) filed suit in the Northern District of Georgia against Kellie Griffin Interiors, Inc. of Atlanta (“Kellie Griffin Interiors”) and Kellie Griffin of Alpharetta.  The suit alleges copyright infringement, false designation of origin under the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. 1125(a)), and violation of the Georgia Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act (O.C.G.A. 10-1-372).

Plaintiffs allege that Kellie Griffin, a former intern at Meg Adams Interiors, used photographs taken by Rubinstein Photography of showcase work completed by Meg Adams Interiors to promote her own design company, Kellie Griffin Interiors, without Plaintiffs’ consent.  Plaintiffs claim that all of the photographs used by Kellie Griffin Interiors are the subject of federal copyright registrations owned by either Rubinstein Photography or Meg Adams Interiors.  According to the complaint, when the CEO of Meg Adams Interiors, Margaret Adams, notified a potential customer that the portfolio presented by Ms. Griffin consisted of photographs and work that did not belong to her, Ms. Griffin and Kellie Griffin Interiors sued Meg Adams Interiors, Margaret Adams, and Ms. Adams’ brother for defamation in Dekalb County (GA) Superior Court.     In response, Meg Adams Interiors and Rubinstein Photography filed this action against Kellie Griffin Interiors and Ms. Griffin for copyright infringement and false designation of origin.

The case, action number 1:12-cv-02614-JEC, has been assigned to Chief Judge Julie Carnes.