The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate has reached a settlement with Target, Nordstrom and other retailers that allegedly sold unauthorized canvas prints of the famed “King of New York” photo snapped just days before the legendary rapper’s death.
A court filing from Wednesday (July 16) says the lawsuit filed by Biggie’s estate in February has been settled entirely. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, as is typical with these types of settlements.
The lawsuit accused Target, Nordstrom, Bed Beth & Beyond and Home Depot of selling infringing prints of the iconic image known as “The King of New York” — a portrait of The Notorious B.I.G. wearing a gold crown in front of a red backdrop, taken only three days before the rapper was killed in a Los Angeles shooting in 1997.
Biggie’s estate claimed the retailers sourced these prints from a company called iCanvas, which allegedly has a history of making unauthorized prints of other artists, including Beyoncé, Prince, Jay-Z, Snoop Dog and LL Cool J.
A lawyer representing the estate, Steven Hart, tells Billboard on Thursday (July 17) that he cannot disclose the terms of the settlement but that “the matter was resolved to our client’s satisfaction.”
“I will also say it is so incredibly important, in this day and age, where everyone’s privacy is under attack and so easily disseminated, to protect our privacy, name, likeness and image and trademarks,” adds Hart. “Companies must do better than to steal the identity of others to turn a profit or for their own selfish a greedy interest. We urge other public figures whether alive or passed to dearly hold on to their good name and use of their images.”
An attorney for the retailers did not return a request for comment.
The resolution comes as The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate is becoming embroiled in another legal battle — this one internal. An executor for the estate of Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, sued the rapper’s widow, Faith Evans, last week for control of the valuable portfolio.
In that lawsuit, Evans is accused of withholding profits from Primary Wave’s landmark purchase of a stake in Biggie’s catalog and other intellectual property rights earlier this year. Wallace’s executor wants to remove Evans from her role as sole manager of Notorious B.I.G. LLC.
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