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In a legal showdown that echoes the intensity of a game-winning drive, renowned photographer Allen Kee launched a lawsuit on Thursday, accusing the Detroit Lions of copyright infringement. The lawsuit revolves around an almost two-decades-old photograph of legendary running back Barry Sanders, allegedly recreated in minute detail for a statue erected by the team last year.

Photographer Sues Detroit Lions Over Copyright Infringement

Allen Kee, with a photography career spanning three decades, claims that the Lions utilized his iconic photo, captured during a Lions game on September 3, 1995, as the blueprint for a statue unveiled on September 16, 2023. Kee's lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, not only targets the Lions but also names the National Football League (NFL), Getty Images, and various retailers, including Fanatics and Dick's Sporting Goods, as defendants.

The heart of the matter lies in the detailed recreation of Kee's photograph for the 8-foot-tall bronze statue, now a prominent feature outside the Lions' home stadium. The lawsuit presents a screenshot from a YouTube video depicting the statue's creation, showcasing a blown-up version of Kee's photo used by the sculptor as a reference point.

"TCI, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Detroit Lions, downloaded, copied and created a large-format print of plaintiff's photograph for purposes of slavishly recreating all details of plaintiff's photograph in the Sanders statue," alleges the complaint.

Photographer Sues Detroit Lions Over Copyright Infringement: Barry Sanders Tribute

Kee admits to submitting the photograph to NFL Photo in 1995 but asserts that he did not relinquish its copyright. Despite later submissions to WireImage, owned by MediaVast Inc. between 2004 and 2007, the contested photo was not part of the library acquired by Getty Images in 2007. The lawsuit claims that Getty Images, unbeknownst to Kee until 2022, sold licenses of his photo without consent or authorization.

The Lions unveiled the statue, a tribute to Barry Sanders, with fanfare on September 16, 2023. The controversy deepens as photos of the statue are now being sold by various retailers, including Fanatics and Dick's Sporting Goods, with memorabilia frames featuring copies of Kee's photos.

A representative for Allen Kee declined to comment on Thursday. Responses from the Lions, NFL, Fanatics, Timeless Creations, and Dick's Sporting Goods were not immediately available.

Kee is represented by Kevin McCulloch and Nate Kleinman of McCulloch Kleinman Law.

The case, titled Kee v. The Detroit Lions Inc. et al., case number 1:24-cv-00223, unfolds in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.