Amy Taylor v. Jamie Nelson Lawsuit Timeline (2025–2026)
A complete timeline of the Amy Taylor v. Jamie Nelson lawsuit involving Amyl and the Sniffers, photographer Jamie Nelson, copyright claims, right of publicity, and federal court rulings in California.
At its core, the dispute centers on copyright ownership, the use of photographic images, and the extent to which those images may be controlled after publication.
Timeline
Key events are listed in chronological order.
May 4, 2025
– Champagne Problems photoshoot is conceived, directed, and photographed by Jamie Nelson
July 2025
– Images published in Vogue Portugal
November 18, 2025
– Counsel for Amy Taylor demands that Nelson remove the images from her social media and portfolio websites; Nelson declines and asserts her copyright ownership
December 4, 2025
– John Angus Stewart of PHC Films, spouse of Amy Taylor, posts one of Nelson’s copyrighted images online alongside commentary that Nelson believes discouraged the purchase of her fine art prints
December 4, 2025
– Nelson issues cease-and-desist notices to John Angus Stewart (spouse of Amy Taylor), PHC Films, Amy Taylor, Amyl and the Sniffers, and the band’s manager, Simone Ubaldi of Sundowner Music
December 9, 2025
– Nelson files a civil harassment restraining order petition against Amy Taylor in California state court
December 22, 2025
– Amy Taylor files a federal lawsuit against Nelson asserting right-of-publicity, Lanham Act, and related claims
February 16, 2026
– Nelson files copyright infringement counterclaims in federal court, naming additional related parties including Amy Taylor and Amyl and the Sniffers Pty Ltd
February 17, 2026
– Nelson files an anti-SLAPP motion challenging Taylor’s claims on First Amendment grounds
February 19, 2026
– Nelson files a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings seeking dismissal of the claims as legally insufficient
March 18, 2026
– The court issues a tentative ruling on Nelson’s dispositive motions, indicating dismissal of Taylor’s primary federal claim and an inclination to dismiss the state law claims on jurisdictional grounds
May 4, 2026
– The Court signaled that it intends to stand by its March 18th tentative ruling finding Taylor's core Lanham Act claim legally deficient, while allowing Plaintiff Amy Taylor one final opportunity to amend.
May 29, 2026
Amy Taylor seeks to recover 36k in her attorneys fees from Nelson including her 5 person legal team and her lawyer billed at $825 an hour. The court largely rejects the motion and awards her only $9k.
June 15, 2026
– Status conference hearing date. Stephen Doniger joins Nelson's legal team after Nelson represented herself, pro se, for 6 months. Doniger announces he will be moving to dismiss all of Taylor's claims.
June 20, 2026
– Amyl and the Sniffers is served with Nelson's counterclaims in Minneapolis, MN, at one of their concerts while touring in the United States.
July 27, 2026
– Status Conference set.
September 14, 2026
– Hearing on three motions to dismiss. The Court dismissed Taylor’s sole Federal claim, Lanham Act, with prejudice. The Court allowed Taylor’s right-of-publicity and implied-contract claims to continue while expressing skepticism, and denied Taylor and Amyl and the Sniffers’ motions to dismiss Nelson’s copyright counterclaims, which will proceed.
Further Reading on Amy Taylor v. Jamie Nelson
Why I Filed a Restraining Order Against Amy Taylor
'Rights Grab' Contracts in Live Music
Support Jamie Nelson’s fight for artists’ rights, First Amendment protections, and copyright law: Jamie Nelson Support T-Shirts
