Rihanna has launched legal action against Topshop for selling t-shirts that are emblazoned with a photo of the singer.

As previously reported, court papers showed in May that the singer's team would be suing Topshop for using an image of Bajan beauty without approval.

The BBC reports that proceedings have started at the High Court in London, with Rihanna suing the fashion retailer for a total of $5m (£3.28m).

Rihanna representative Martin Howe QC said: "In 2012, Topshop sold a T-shirt displaying a clearly recognisable image of Rihanna taken when she was on a video shoot. She was wearing her makeup and hairdo for the video shoot, and very similar images of her appeared on her CD inlay [for the album 'Talk that Talk']. The sales...gave rise to a likelihood of deception, damaging Rihanna's goodwill.

"A substantial number of people buying, or even seeing, those T-shirts would think they are approved or somehow connected with Rihanna, when, in fact, they were not approved of or connected with her at all."

Topshop say they have done nothing wrong and simply bought rights to the image from the photographer who took the offending picture.

Their QC Geoffrey Hobbs said: "We resist the claim on two main bases; first, this is, in substance and reality, an impermissible attempt by Rihanna to establish an image reproduction right in the UK. There is no such right. On the contrary, Topshop are entitled honestly to sell the garment, having obtained the necessary copyright licence. Secondly there is no representation here, given that the garment is fashion wear and not promotional merchandise."