A popular international muralist from Brooklyn, N.Y. has accused Starbucks of using one of her works without her permission and is suing them for $750,000 for it.
Maya Hayuk filed a lawsuit for copyright penalties and additional cash damages at a federal court in Manhattan.
Hayuk's lawyer, Aaron Silverstein, said that his client was "saddened" to see her designs on the coffee giant's promotional posters, advertisements and on the plastic cups for the new Frappucinos, according to The New York Post.
The Brooklyn-based artist wrote in her complaint that 72andsunny, Starbucks' ad agency, had approached her showing interest in her works, but she had to turn it down due to other commitments.
"Starbucks brazenly created artwork that is substantially similar to one or more of Hayuk's copyrighted works," Hayuk wrote.
The complaint also said that the mini Frappuccino campaign "used the same abstract, radiating beams of black, white, yellow, magenta and azure" that are found in five paintings made by Hayuk.
"We are aware a complaint has been filed, and we are investigating the allegations," a Starbucks spokesperson said, Business Insider reported.
