Rihanna has decided to sue the British retail chain Topshop for $5 million. The singer discovered that the company was selling T-shirts with her picture on them. However, the singer never gave them her permission.

According to page six of The New York Post, although it seems like a simple open and shut case, things can become a bit difficult for Rihanna. The factor that complicates the lawsuit is that although there are Topshop stores in the United States the company has only sold the shirts in their British stores.

In the UK, the law does not seem to be as strict with protecting a person's image the same way the United States is.

An exclusive source told The Post that Rihanna's team has been trying to negotiate with Topshop owners Arcadia Group for eight months over the rights to her image, "but they offered her $5,000 and said they don't care."

The singer hired international law firm company Reed Smith to file the suit in London.

A source told The Post that Rihanna is offended over the situation, "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.'" Topshop is now in the United States.

"They set up in Manhattan and Nordstrom, but they know better than to do this in the US because they would get in trouble."

Despite knowing that UK laws do not protect artists the Rihanna still wants to follow through with the suit. She has almost already spent a reported $1 million in litigation, "She says it's the principle, and wants to make a statement about it. They are taking advantage of artists. It is just exploitation. What they are doing is wrong."