DeviantArt Files Motion to Disqualify Law Firm in Case
The platform claims its former legal counsel has a conflict of interest in an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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DeviantArt has filed a motion in the US District Court for the Central District of California to disqualify the law firm Crowell & Moring from representing Evox. The platform alleges that the firm, which previously advised DeviantArt parent company Wix.com, possesses material confidential information that creates a conflict of interest.
Why it matters
This dispute highlights the complex nature of legal conflicts in high-stakes copyright litigation involving AI companies. It raises questions about how long advisory relationships and their associated confidentiality obligations persist after billable work concludes.
The disqualification request filed under case 2:26-cv-07201-CAS-RAO centers on the firm's prior role as counsel for Wix.com and its subsidiaries. DeviantArt asserts that a lapse in billable work does not terminate the duty of confidentiality.
The players
DeviantArt
An online community and art platform founded in 2000 that is currently a subsidiary of Wix.com.
Crowell & Moring
A Washington, DC-based law firm with nearly 700 lawyers that provides legal services to various corporate entities.
Evox
The plaintiff in the ongoing copyright infringement litigation against DeviantArt.
Wix.com
A web development platform that owns DeviantArt and previously retained Crowell & Moring for advisory services.
The details
DeviantArt argues that Crowell & Moring gained access to proprietary data while advising Wix.com from 2022 to 2026. The platform contends that this history creates a substantive conflict for the firm as it now represents Evox in a copyright infringement suit filed in July 2026. In contrast, Crowell & Moring’s general counsel stated in September 2026 that the firm has performed no work for Wix since 2024.
Timeline
2022-2026: Crowell advised Wix.com and its subsidiaries.
July 2026: Evox sued DeviantArt for copyright infringement.
September 2026: Crowell sent a letter regarding conflicts.
October 14, 2026: DeviantArt filed the motion to disqualify Crowell.
The Tech Race
This litigation is part of a broader wave of copyright challenges facing AI-integrated platforms. It follows a pattern of heightened legal scrutiny regarding how intellectual property is protected within the modern web ecosystem.
This case is currently confined to the US District Court for the Central District of California and does not affect platform access for users. However, it signals that copyright-related litigation involving AI will remain a long-term fixture for developers and their legal counsel.
The takeaway
This motion forces the court to define the expiration of attorney-client confidentiality in the context of massive multi-practice law firms. Legal observers should watch for the judge's ruling on whether the firm's prior advisory history precludes its participation in the Evox copyright case.
Further reading
Explore the legal and technical landscape of Artificial Intelligence to understand how ongoing copyright litigation is shaping industry standards.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reuters.
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