A digital artist has taken legal action against a group of online retailers for allegedly infringing on her copyrighted artwork. Tatiana Andreevna Makeeva filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on December 2, 2024, targeting numerous partnerships and unincorporated associations identified as defendants. The lawsuit accuses these entities of selling unauthorized products that replicate her copyrighted illustrations.
Tatiana Makeeva, a freelance digital artist known for her realistic works inspired by nature and fantasy, claims ownership of the federal copyright registration protecting her creative content. Her complaint highlights how these defendants have created internet stores to sell counterfeit products derived from her work without permission. According to Makeeva, these online stores use deceptive tactics to appear legitimate, targeting consumers in Illinois and beyond by offering shipping within the United States and accepting payments in U.S. dollars.
The plaintiff argues that the defendants' actions constitute willful copyright infringement under the Federal Copyright Act. She emphasizes that their illegal operations have caused significant harm to her reputation, goodwill, and ability to license her work. The complaint further details how e-commerce platforms facilitate such piracy by allowing counterfeiters to operate under aliases and evade enforcement efforts through coordinated supply chains.
Makeeva seeks both injunctive relief and monetary damages from the court. She requests an order prohibiting the defendants from using or selling any products based on her copyrighted work without authorization. Additionally, she demands actual or statutory damages as determined at trial, along with reimbursement for attorneys' fees and costs incurred during litigation.
Representing Tatiana Makeeva is attorney Keith A. Vogt from Keith Vogt Ltd., based in Chicago, Illinois. The case is presided over by judges in the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:24-cv-12368.