Amyl and the Sniffers' Amy Taylor Wins Copyright Court Battle

Judge George Wu denied Nelson’s anti-SLAPP motion and ordered the parties to mediate within three weeks. Taylor’s lawyer, Jonathan Pink, described the outcome as a near-total victory. The hearing took place in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Pink stated that the court ruled almost entirely in favor of Amy Taylor, giving her the right to amend her federal court action. This kept her state-based claims alive and pressured Nelson to settle the lawsuit.

Judge Wu set a mediation deadline for April 23, ahead of an April 27 hearing. He issued a stark warning to Nelson, indicating that, absent a course-correction, he would enter a default judgment against Nelson’s company, Jamie Nelson Studios LLC, on April 29. Wu dismissed Nelson’s attempts to question the legal expertise of Taylor’s counsel, a 30-year copyright attorney, and declined to assist Nelson with her claims, noting that such assistance was not the role of the federal judiciary.

Judge Wu advised Nelson directly: “Settlement is worth it even if you have to pay more than you want. Things are only going to get worse for you if you go forward.” Nelson, for her part, maintained that her own copyright claims remained active. “My copyright counterclaims remain active and will continue to move forward against Amy Taylor, Amyl and the Sniffers, John Angus Stewart, and PHC Films,” she told Rolling Stone AU/NZ. This case highlights the realities independent artists face when navigating disputes against well-funded and highly aggressive legal pressure, and I will continue to assert my rights as an artist as this matter proceeds.

The dispute stemmed from a 2025 photo shoot for Vogue Portugal, where Nelson photographed Taylor in a series titled Champagne Problems. Taylor agreed to the shoot with the understanding that the images would be used exclusively for the magazine. Nelson proposed selling a selection of the photographs as fine art prints, priced at $3,600 each, and a limited-edition zine, both of which were rejected by Taylor’s management. Taylor’s lawsuit, filed in California district court in late 2025, alleges that Nelson proceeded to list the prints for sale anyway and continued using the images on her website and social media without authorization.

The dispute escalated sharply at the end of last year. In December 2025, Nelson filed a civil harassment restraining order petition against Taylor in Los Angeles Superior Court, which the court declined to grant.

Nelson filed copyright counterclaims, alleging that a third party connected to Taylor posted her images without permission. The latest hearing marks the most significant legal development yet, with the court firmly signaling that mediation is the preferred path. Amyl and the Sniffers, formed in Melbourne in 2016, have become one of Australia’s most prominent rock exports. Their 2022 album, Comfort to Me, debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and earned widespread international acclaim, including nominations at the Brit Awards and recognition for Taylor as Australian of the Year.

The court largely supported Amy Taylor in the dispute, urging resolution and warning photographer Jamie Nelson about the worsening legal situation. The case underlines the difficulties faced by independent artists in legal disputes. Amyl and the Sniffers, based in Australia, have achieved significant success, with their album 'Comfort to Me' topping the charts and gaining international recognition. The band, formed in 2016, has been recognized with nominations and awards, solidifying their status in the music scene.