Adam Levine is facing a federal lawsuit over an Instagram post he shared in 2019 urging support for Hurricane Dorian victims.
According to court documents, obtained by Billboard, filed earlier this week, the Maroon 5 frontman, 46, allegedly included copyrighted video footage of storm damage in the Bahamas without permission from the owner.
The lawsuit, brought by Global Weather Productions LLC, claims Levine used footage taken in the Abacos Islands, one of the hardest-hit areas during the storm, without securing a proper license.
The video was originally published on September 3, 2019, by ‘professional storm chaser’ Michael Brandon Clement and, according to the lawsuit, is owned by Global Weather Productions, a licensing company that has filed multiple similar suits in recent years.
Levine allegedly shared the video three days later in a September 6, 2019, Instagram post, which highlighted the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and Carolinas.
He also urged his followers to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
Adam Levine is facing a federal lawsuit over an Instagram post he shared in 2019 urging support for Hurricane Dorian victims
But Global Weather Productions says the charitable intent doesn’t excuse what it views as a clear case of copyright infringement.
‘As a musician and author, defendant has significant experience in copyright matters and is familiar with specific practices including the need to ensure that content used in his posts has been properly licensed,’ the lawsuit states. ‘As a content creator himself, defendant should be particularly sensitive to the unauthorized use of his works.’
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The company says it made several attempts earlier this year to contact Levine’s team in order to resolve the issue outside of court.
According to the complaint, Global Weather Productions reached out in April and followed up again in May, but reportedly never received a response.
‘Despite plaintiff’s efforts and willingness to address defendant’s infringing activity, defendant failed to respond, and plaintiff was forced to seek judicial intervention for defendant’s infringing activity,’ the suit claims.
Now, the company is seeking damages that could total up to $150,000 under federal copyright law.
Global Weather Productions has filed dozens of similar lawsuits since 2023, targeting both major media outlets, including Reuters, Univision, and NewsNation and public figures such as model Molly Sims.
As of now, Levine has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
The Maroon 5 frontman, 46, allegedly included copyrighted video footage of storm damage in the Bahamas without permission from the owner
(The destruction following Hurricane Dorian in Abaco island Bahamas picture above in 2019)
Daily Mail has reached out to Levine’s representatives, but they have not yet responded.
In addition to trying to help raise funds for Hurricane Dorian victims, Levine has been involved in various charitable endeavors from supporting youth mental health to U.S. education programs.
Earlier this month, he celebrated his 11th wedding anniversary with wife Behati Prinsloo.
The couple share two daughters, Dusty Rose and Gio Grace, six, as well as a two-year-old son, whose name has not been publicly revealed.