Tiernan v. Wonders Counseling Services, LLC, Civil Action No. 1:23-cv-028203-VMC (N.D. Ga., June 29, 2023)

A photographer has filed suit in the Northern District of Georgia for copyright infringement.

Plaintiff registered a photograph in 2017 under U.S. Registration No. VA 2-077-777 (“the Photograph”). Dkt. 1, at ¶ 20. But, according to the Complaint, Defendant Wonders Counseling Services, LLC, which operates a website offering mental health services and training to the public at www.wondercounseling.com, used the Photograph without permission. Dkt. 1, at ¶ 3. “Without permission or authorization from Plaintiff, Defendant volitionally selected, copied, stored and/or displayed Plaintiff’s copyright protected Photograph.” Dkt. 1, at ¶ 24. Due to the nature of the website, Plaintiff alleges the Photograph “increased traffic to the Website and, in turn, caused Defendant to realize an increase in its applicable service.” Dkt. 1, at ¶ 37.

Plaintiff brings one count of direct copyright infringement. The case has been assigned to Judge Victoria Calvert.