Topshop T-shirt that is thought to have sparked the disagreement The chart-topping singer Rihanna is suing British retail giant Topshop for allegedly selling T-shirts featuring an unauthorised image of her. The Bajan songstress has been involved in legal proceedings with the high street fashion chain for over year, but negotiations have proved unsuccessful.
Rihanna, 25, is now reportedly suing TopShop for $5 million after they refused to stop selling the product. The New York Post reports that the pop star has hired international law firm Reed Smith to represent her against Sir Philip Green\'s Arcadia Group – which owns TopShop.
However it looks like the move may prove fruitless. “They buy the pictures from a photographer, but they do not pay the artist licensing fees. Unfortunately, UK law does not protect the artist,\" a source told the New York Post.
The source added: “Even though the UK laws don’t protect the artist, she has decided to move forward and sue Topshop. She has spent almost $1 million in litigation at this point. She says it’s the principle, and wants to make a statement about it. They are taking advantage of artists. It is just exploitation. What they are doing is wrong.”
The brand is yet to officially comment, but Topshop source replied to the reports attributing the problem to a third-party supplier.
The We Found Love singer was once tipped to be in talks to release a fashion line for Topshop, after she was spotted dining with Sir Philip in Barbados at Christmas 2010.
But Rihanna has since signed deals to design clothes for rival brands River Island and Armani.