Amyl and Sniffers’ Amy Taylor Announces First Victory in Photographer’s Continued Copyright Dispute

A US federal judge has ruled in favor of Amyl and Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor in her ongoing copyright dispute with artist Jamie Nelson.

Judge George Wu denied Nelson’s anti-SLAPP motion, ordered the parties to file within three weeks, and warned the photographer that “things are going to get worse” if the case goes to trial.

In a hearing before district court Judge George Wu in the US District Court for the Central District of California on Monday, March 31, Taylor’s attorney, Jonathan Pink, described the outcome as a close victory.

“The US district court today ruled almost entirely in favor of the plaintiff, Amy Taylor, giving her the right to amend her lawsuit, save her federal charges, and rely on the defendant, Jamie Nelson, to resolve this case,” Pink said in a statement. In short, today’s case was a close victory for Amy Taylor and almost completely different from Ms. Nelson’s.

Judge Wu set a hearing date of April 23, ahead of the April 27 hearing, and issued a stern warning to Nelson. Absent from the course, Wu indicated that he will enter a default judgment against Nelson’s company, Jamie Nelson Studios LLC, on April 29.

He also dismissed Nelson’s attempts to question the legal expertise of Taylor’s counsel – a 30-year attorney – and refused to assist Nelson with his claims, noting that such assistance was not part of the federal court. In comments from the bench, the judge told Nelson bluntly: “Paying more money than you want.

Nelson, for his part, confirmed that his copyright claims are still valid. “My copyright claims are active and will continue to progress against Amy Taylor, Amyl and Sniffers, John Angus Stewart, and PHC Films,” he told Rolling Stone AU/NZ on Tuesday. “This case highlights the real issues that independent artists face as they resolve conflicts against well-supported and highly aggressive copyright infringement, and I will continue to assert my rights as an artist as this matter progresses.”

Nelson emphasized that Billboard that “The Court also found that the photographs in question are ‘indisputably important’ and are part of express activities protected by the First Amendment.” No final decision has been reached in this debate.

The argument is caused by the 2025 photo for Vogue Portugalwhich Nelson photographed Taylor in a series he later named Champagne Trouble.

Taylor’s side confirms that she agreed to the shoot with the understanding that the images will only be used for the magazine. Nelson then offered to sell a selection of the photos as prints – priced at $3,600 each – and a limited-edition line, both of which Taylor’s executives rejected. Taylor’s lawsuit, filed in a California district court in late 2025, says Nelson continued to list articles for sale and continued to use the images on his website and social media without permission.

The dispute had intensified at the end of last year. In December 2025, Nelson filed a civil harassment restraining order against Taylor in Los Angeles Superior Court, which the court denied.

Nelson has since filed a copyright lawsuit, accusing someone related to Taylor of posting her images without permission. The latest case marks a significant legal development, and the court strongly indicates that settlement is the preferred way forward.

Founded in Melbourne in 2016, Amyl and Sniffers has become one of Australia’s leading exports. Their 2022 album help me which debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and achieved worldwide acclaim, including Brit Award nominations and Australian of the Year recognition for Taylor.