London, May 19 (IANS): Pop star Rihanna has reportedly sued British retail brand Topshop for $5 million for using her image on their products without her permission.

The brand has been selling women's T-shirts printed with an image of Rihanna in an oufit from her iconic "We Found Love" video.

"Rihanna's management asked Topshop a number of times to stop selling her image and were told, 'We do what we want'. They buy the pictures from a photographer, but they do not pay the artist licensing fees. Unfortunately, Britain law does not protect the artist," thesun.co.uk quoted a source as saying.

"What is most offensive for Rihanna is that they basically told her, 'Go to hell. We don't care; we are going to continue selling you'. They offered her $5,000 and said they don't care," the source added.

She is now said to be taking legal action after eight-months of negotiations with the firm, owned by billionaire Philip Green.

Rihanna has reportedly hired international lawyers Reed Smith to file a lawsuit against the brand here.