It’s no doubt that the legacy of Tupac will live on forever. From his music, to the brash truth he utilized in his interviews, to his cultural influences in and outside of hip-hop, Tupac lives on through us.
Furthermore, Tupac‘s legacy thrives thru merchandise featuring his likeness.
Recently, two major retail companies have landed themselves in hot water for doing that. This past Wednesday (May 31), Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters were handed a copyright infringement lawsuit by photographer Danny Clinch. Clinch claims that both retailers and various third parties such as Amaru Merchandising (Tupac Shakur’s official merchandise licensing company) used his photos of the late rapper to create products without his consent.
Clinch’s photo of Tupac landed on a 1996 cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Clinch is asking to be accurately compensated for use of his photos on the products; meanwhile asking that any remaining inventory to be destroyed.
This wasn’t the first time Forever 21 faced copyright infringement (i.e. ripping of Kanye’s “Saint Pablo” merch and Rihanna’s Fenty Puma line).
Should Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters run up a check to Clinch, or nah?
Leave your comments below!
Source: HipHopDX, Consumerist
The Original Chatman 