Photographer Sam Mugraby has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the Southern District of Indiana against Nuthak Insurance, LLC. Mugraby, an Israeli citizen and owner of Boxist.com, alleges that the Indiana-based insurance company used one of his copyrighted images without permission.
The image in question is titled “Jesus On Cross At Sunset,” a professionally created photo that Mugraby registered with the U.S. Copyright Office in 2016 (Registration No. VA-2-031-867). According to the complaint, the photograph includes copyright information identifying Mugraby as the creator and owner. Mugraby claims that Nuthak Insurance used the image on its website and social media to advertise its services without securing a license or obtaining permission.
Mugraby discovered the use in August 2024 and says he contacted the company in writing. The complaint argues that the image was used for commercial purposes, and that Nuthak Insurance either ignored or removed the visible copyright notice.
The lawsuit includes two legal claims. First, Mugraby accuses the company of copyright infringement, seeking damages or profits from the unauthorized use. Second, he alleges that Nuthak Insurance knowingly removed or altered copyright management information from the image, which is a separate violation under federal law.
Mugraby is asking the court for a range of remedies, including actual or statutory damages, legal fees, interest, and a permanent injunction to prevent future unauthorized use of his work. He is also seeking a declaration that the violations were willful.
The case has been assigned to Judge Tanya Walton Pratt and Magistrate Judge Kellie M. Barr in the U.S. District Court of Southern Indiana Case No. 1:25-cv-01201.