Appeal Court confirms prescription and closes the process of Spencer Elden, who alleged child pornography and exploration
The album Snowmind (1991) Nirvana It contains one of the most recognizable images in the history of music: a submerged naked baby, swimming toward a dollar note attached to an hook. Now, the cover baby, Spencer Eldenwho filed a legal action accusing the band and the labels of child pornography and commercial sexual exploitation, had their case definitely closed.
The Court of Appeal confirmed the decision of the lower court and validated the prescription thesis presented by the defense of the Nirvana. The Court ruled that Spencer Elden He waited too long, over 30 years, to claim that the image had sexually exploited him.
The disproportion between the amount paid by the image and the profit generated by the disc was the moral fuel of the process, since the parents of Elden received approximately US $ 200 by the rehearsal. The action asked US $ 150 thousand indemnity of each one of the accused, including members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselicand the label Universal Music Group.
Process chronology
The federal process initiated by Spencer Elden In 2021 he was barred in January 2022 by the California court. The defense of Nirvana He argued that the status of limitations had expired.
The legal team of Spencer Elden He turned, arguing the thesis of continuous damage. This thesis stated that with each new sale, streaming or reissue of the album Snowmindthe crime of exploitation would be perpetuated. However, the court of appeal rejected this argument, maintaining the initial filing.
One of the most controversial elements of the process was the ambiguous relationship of Spencer Elden with the cover itself. Although he claimed to have suffered exploitation, he sported the word “Snowmind”Tattooed in the chest and participated in several recreations of the photo for the media over the years, which undermined the allegation of trauma before the court. 2025 in favor of Nirvanathe dispute is closed.
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Dave Grohl
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Krist Novoselic
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Nirvana
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Universal Music Group
Source: Rollingstone

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