Sony Music Entertainment has settled a trademark infringement lawsuit over Future’s album title. high off lifemore than two years after the company was sued by a small company called High Off Life LLC (HOL).
Last week (January 3), a Pennsylvania District Court judge ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by HOL against Sony Music and Future’s label Freeband Productions (owned by Sony Music). rice field.
However, the details and terms of the settlement were not disclosed, including whether Sony Music paid HOL a certain amount or agreed to rename Future’s album.
Future, born Naivadius Demun Wilburn, is releasing his eighth studio album, high off life, It was released in May 2020 via Freebanz and Epic Records.
Featuring collaborations with Drake, Travis Scott, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Durk, Meek Mill, Doe Boy, DaBaby and Lil Baby, the album debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200, charting two I recorded my rank. US Billboard Hot 100.
The album was originally going to be called life is beautiful, It is the title of the third single featuring Drake.The first title was revealed by the rapper XXL magazine 2020.
talk about the album with XXL magazine Just one month before the album’s release, Future said: Spiritually, life is good. It’s just a state of mind. For better or worse, life is good, but life is precious.
But a month later, Future dropped an album under that name high off life.
In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Future said:
Meanwhile, in a complaint filed in October 2020, five months after the album’s release, High Off Life LLC stated that the album’s title had been “released at the last minute due to concerns over negative coronavirus-related press coverage.” , said it was changed.
“Album title high off life Regardless of the album’s expressive content, it is an exact copy of HOL’s registered and widely used mark. ”
HOL says it has “deep roots in the hip-hop community, especially in the Pennsylvania and Atlanta areas.”
According to the company, it manufactures and sells the product. high off life Branded clothing including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, tote bags and other items since 2009. high off life Marks at concerts, photo shoots, videos, and other events, HOL added.
they also hosted high off life concert Since 2009, other hip-hop shows where the brand has been displayed.
HOL later applied for and was granted three trademarks. high off life brand.
The company has accused Sony Music of deliberately copying its trademark on Future’s album releases. Also, Future’s own label, his Freebandz, high off life trademark.
“Freebandz is based in Atlanta, where HOL has been a big presence in the hip-hop scene for over a decade. high off life Mark,” said HOL.
Complainants allege that consumers have suffered “significant reverse confusion” because they believed HOL was associated with Future, Sony, and Freebandz. It also states that it has lost rankings on search engines like Google because of related links.
“Overnight, defendants destroyed HOL’s years of investment and thousands of dollars in building consumer perception of HOL. high off life brand,” insisted HOL.
Sony tried to dismiss the lawsuit in January 2021, but a Pennsylvania judge denied that request in April 2022.
Most recently, Pennsylvania Judge W. Scott Hardy dismissed the case “with prejudice,” meaning the case was permanently dismissed and could no longer be brought to court.
The settlement ended another legal battle by Sony. Last month, a Georgia jury ordered Sony Music to pay $160 million in punitive damages after two attendees were shot dead during a Cousin Stitz concert in 2017. rice field.
global music business