Mobb Deep is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit initiated by a hardcore punk band.
According to court documents, Sick of It All has sued Havoc, Prodigy’s estate, and Supreme over a logo used on a line of T-shirts launched this summer.
Bush Baby Zamagate, Inc., the company that owns the intellectual property of the punk band, claims the parties used a logo that looks a lot like the plaintiff’s unique logo without permission.
The logo is a dragon emblem that Mobb Deep has sporadically used since 1997. The lawsuit claims that the hardcore band Sick Of It All has utilized a “nearly identical” dragon logo since at least 1987. Furthermore, the lawsuit states that the band had requested Mobb Deep to cease using the logo on two separate occasions.
“This is not the first time that plaintiff has objected to Mobb Deep’s use of a logo substantially identical to plaintiff’s mark,” lawyer’s for the company wrote. “Immediately prior to the institution of this lawsuit, plaintiff demanded that defendants cease use of their infringing logo and provide an accounting to plaintiff of sales of the infringing goods. Defendants refused to comply with those demands.”
The company is seeking a court order to prohibit the Queens Hip Hop veterans, as well as Supreme, from utilizing “the Infringing Mark or any other mark that may cause confusion with it, whether used on its own or in conjunction with other words, names, styles, titles, designs, or marks in connection with the offering of any products and services.”
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages.
In different Mobb Deep updates, Havoc has confirmed they are working on a new album featuring vocals from his late rap partner. He’s also recording a project with Method Man.
“I’m actively working on a Mobb Deep album now, as we speak,” he said. “The family blessed me with a bunch of vocals [by Prodigy], and soon as I leave here, I’m goin’ back to work.”
