LIL’ WAYNE VS. QD3 ENTERTAINMENT
Photo Credit bet.com
Rapper Lil’ Wayne is no stranger to controversy and his
latest legal woes are nothing new. According to perezhilton.com,
Lil Wayne sued Quincy Jones III, the son of Quincy Jones, in the fall of 2012.
Jones III released a documentary entitled The
Carter about the rapper and also used music from his album The Carter III without obtaining
permission for either. Adding insult to injury, “the fire man” was angry about
how Jones III portrayed him in the unauthorized documentary.
Ultimately, Lil’ Wayne was not able to appear in court for
the trial due to seizure-like symptoms while en route to court and was
hospitalized as a result. Consequently, the rapper’s lawyer showed the jury his
deposition via video. Check it out below.
Albeit entertaining, it may not have been the best court
behavior. Although I must say, Lil’ Wayne being there in person could have made
things a lot worse for the rapper.
In the end, Quincy Jones III won the case and filed a
COUNTERSUIT against Lil’ Wayne alleging that because his film was blocked from
release it’s “potential for profit” was compromised. Jones III claims that Lil’
Wayne owes him over $2 million dollars. Initially, I did not understand why or
how QD3 Entertainment won this case, but after further research, I found this
disclaimer.
Apparently, Lil’ Wayne gave the project the green light and later
backed out once footage was already taken. So in turn, I guess Quincy Jones III
won fair and square.
BRAND DESIGN CO. VS. NBC UNIVERSAL
Photo Credit oneworldsymphony.org
In more recent news, NBC Universal made $3.5 million in a
lawsuit over Chalet typeface font theft.
The Hollywood Reporter claims this past Tuesday; a federal judge in New York
dismissed the case. Brand Design Co. claims that NBC Universal breached
copyright font software contract and says the stolen font is “all over NBCU’s
websites.”
Frank Martinez, a Brooklyn lawyer, filed separate multimillion dollar claims against CNBC, Universal Studios and TNT. As of
today, all font theft lawsuits have been settled. Martinez avoided litigation
after sending cease-and desist letters to other targets, including mega-selling
recording acts who allegedly were “less than careful” about crafting the
lettering on their album cover art.
Brand Design Co. alleges that its records indicate NBCU
subsidiary, Oxygen Media, purchased a “basic, 36 workstation (users) license to
use the chalet typeface font software.”
Photo Credit Fontsquirrel.com
Proving Martinez’s third font theft in many years can be
expensive for both parties, but a settlement is sometimes the cheaper and
faster route. NBC Universal chose a very sneaky route to do business. Why draw
up a contract if you did not plan to follow it? That’s the question.
Disobedience has a hefty price tag in this case to the tune of $3.5 million.
The cost of keeping your word? Priceless.
KARDASHIANS VS. BOLDFACE LICENSING + BRANDING
Photo Credit placeitonluckydan.com
The Hollywood Reporter also reports that Kim, Kourtney and
Khloe Kardashian knowingly infringed the trademark on a cosmetics product line.
Boldface Licensing + Branding, who licenses the Kardashian’s names and
likenesses, sued a makeup business owned by Lee Tillett. Boldface has a product
line called “Khroma” while Tillett markets a product named “Kroma”. See the
difference? If consumers will be confused and the filing party can show access
and similarities, than copyright infringement is permissible in a court of law.
However, Boldface was able to obtain a declaratory judgment that the name
“Kroma” “consists solely of a descriptive term and lacks any inherent distinctive
meaning to the relevant consuming public and therefore is conceptually weak.”
In Tillett's defense, he claims that the promotion of “Khroma”
was likely to mislead customers into thinking that his “Kroma” was associated
with the Kardashian sisters. In consensus with the counterclaims, Boldface paid
the Kardashians upfront for licensing rights for $1 million with guaranteed
minimum royalty payments up to $5.2 million, depending on launch dates of
various products. Allegedly, the ladies three had some power over the product
line and it was the most infamous Kardashian, Kim, who proposed the line be
called “Khroma”.
Tillett states that Kim should have known better, especially
since representatives for himself and TLK Fusion acted as Kardashian’s product-placement
agent for a show being produced by Kim, allegedly.
Photo Credit b105.com.au
No deal was ever reached in this matter but I wish it were.
I love the Kardashian Klan as much as the next trendy, fashion-friendly young
woman, yet there’s no question how the name “Khroma” with an 'h' just popped into
Kim’s head. I agree with Tillett; she should have known better. I wonder if
that’s why Kim and Kourtney Take Miami was delayed in premiering. Or was it the
news about Kim and Kanye’s baby news. I don’t know, but I look forward to both.
