Cam’ron must now pay over $50,000 for using a photographer’s copyright image on his Dipset merchandise.
The rapper’s iconic picture of himself wearing a fuzzy pink coat and matching hat while holding a flip phone to his ear was used without photographer Djamilla Cochran’s permission, and now a judge has ruled in the photographer’s favor.
Cochran sued Cam’ron, who legally goes by Cameron Giles, and his company, Dipset Couture, for using her image on a slew of merchandise. Judge William Martini ruled Thursday that the New York rapper had committed copyright infringement.
It was an easy win for Cochran because evidently, Cam’ron never responded to the lawsuit or offered any defenses, the outlet reported.
Judge Martini ordered Cam to fork over $40,530 in so-called statutory damages.
“The court finds that a statutory damages award of seven times the licensing fee is sufficient to compensate plaintiff for the infringement of her copyright and to deter future infringements by punishing the defendants,” the judge said.
He also ordered Cam to repay the $10,691 that Cochran spent to bring forth the lawsuit.
