Companies have been slapping Tupac Shakur’s images on their products for a while, but they evidently aren’t willing to cough up the cash to those responsible for the original photographs.
According to TMZ, seasoned photographer Chi Modu is suing the companies who sold apparel featuring photos of 2Pac he shot in the ’90s, including Macy’s and Urban Outfitters.
Modu is also suing the merchandising company who originally sold the products to Urban Outfitters and Macy’s.
The photog revealed he did have an agreement with the merchandising company at one point, but it expired in July 2016. He claims the company sold the shirts to Urban Outfitters and Macy’s after the agreement ended.
Modu wants the stores’ profits from the shirts as well.
News of Modu’s lawsuit comes shortly photographer Al Pereira reportedly filed a lawsuit against Kendall Jenner, Inc. over the unauthorized use of his photos of Tupac, Biggie, and Redman.
The images of the rappers were placed on t-shirts that sold for $125 before they were pulled.
Check out Modu’s photos from his shoot with the late legendary rapper below.
Go get yo money homie!!
So ur suing someone over pictures you took of someone else? So Tupac or his estate don’t own his image and likeness, you believe u do? Only in America smh
That’s how photography works. Otherwise no photographer would make a dime.
Actually when a photograph is shot of an individual, the photographer still maintains the copyright of that image, not the subject in the image. The photos may be sold to the subject for personal use (portraits, event photos, wedding photos, etc), but the copyright of the actual image remains with the photographer and any use outside of what is agreed is a violation of the photographer’s copyright. Therefore after a shoot, you as the subject may own the physical disc or the copy of USB files the photographer has given you for personal usage, but the actual artistic creation, composition and physical original file itself is owned by the photographer who created it.
NOT only in America.
They will settle out of court for an “undisclosed amount”