Back in 2009 50 Cent filed a lawsuit against WorldStarHipHop on terms that his image was used without his permission. WSHH used 50′s image on a header of their website without permission which was argued that the picture left visitors with the impression that Curtis was affiliated with the website. The two parties got into a bunch of public arguments and it even lead to 50 claiming he shut down the website.
5 years later, a judge has ruled that the G-Unit boss was completely right and granted him “summary judgment on copyright and right of publicity claims”, as well as rejecting defenses of fair use of the image. In addition we’ve acquired an imperative piece of the ruling, “Defendants provide no authority to support the fair use of a celebrity’s image or likeness. This is not surprising, as a celebrity’s image, standing alone, only evokes that celebrity’s persona. Jackson’s image does not, by itself, describe anything about Defendants’ website.”
I wonder how many other rappers will have a case with WorldStar? I mean if 50 can do it, I’m sure there are quite a few rappers that can proclaim their name and likeness was used without their permission on WSHH. With 50 winning the case does that even mean anything for Fifty or WSHH? Doubt it, more like bragging rights, what do you think?
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