Audio By Carbonatix
Jay-Z is suing Jonathan Mannion in a lawsuit concerning the use of his likeness in photographs sold and used by the hip-hop photographer, as TMZ reports and Pitchfork can confirm via court documents.
The rapper is accusing Mannion, who shot the iconic cover of his debut album Reasonable Doubt, of “exploiting” his name and image “without [his] consent.”
He’s seeking an injunction requiring Mannion and his camp to cease using his name and likeness, as well as “compensatory damages, consequential damages, lost profits, and/or disgorgement of Mannion’s profits,” among other damages.
The complaint, filed today (June 15) in a California federal court, reads: “Mannion’s use of Jay-Z’s name, likeness, identity, and persona was, and is, in conscious disregard of Jay-Z’s right of privacy and publicity, and of his exclusive right to control the use and exploitation of his name, likeness, identity, and persona.”
The lawsuit accuses Mannion of thereby violating section 3344 of the California Civil Code, as well as Jay-Z’s common law privacy rights.
When reached by Pitchfork, attorneys for Jay-Z offered no comment. A legal representative for Jonathan Mannion offered the following statement to Pitchfork:
Mr Mannion has created iconic images of Mr Carter over the years and is proud that these images have helped define Jay-Z's artist.
Mr Mannion has the utmost respect for Mr Carter and his body of work and expects that Mr Carter would similarly respect the rights of artists and creators who have helped him achieve the heights to which he has ascended.
We are confident that the First Amendment protects Mr. Mannion's right to sell fine art prints of his copyrighted works, and will review the complaint and respond in due course.
Latest Stories
-
Inusah Fuseini defends NDC Council of Elders’ intervention to safeguard party unity
34 minutes -
Reimagining ECOWAS leadership for a fragmented and uncertain West Africa
35 minutes -
Bank of Ghana considering sale of new $260M Headquarters – Sources
41 minutes -
World Hunger Day: ‘The end of hunger is in our own hands’
51 minutes -
Pupils sent home as teachers’ strike disrupts learning in 80 Tarkwa schools
59 minutes -
There are no divisions in NDC – Godwin Ako Gunn
1 hour -
What Is Wrong with Us: Why we keep chasing payslips while ignoring the payrolls that create them
1 hour -
Patoranking teams up with Ruger for new afro-dancehall single ‘Shake That’
1 hour -
Africa’s climate negotiators put health at the centre of climate action ahead of Bonn talks
2 hours -
Mahama’s involvement in Council of Elders’ directive signals concern over NDC divisions – Haruna Mohammed
2 hours -
Barekese youth threaten dump site blockade over alleged denial of 24-hour market
2 hours -
GES releases 2026/2027 academic calendar for Senior High Schools
2 hours -
Iran warns Israeli attacks in Lebanon threaten ceasefire with US
2 hours -
GhIE calls for radical shift in Ghana’s flood management strategy as urban flooding worsens
2 hours -
Judge me by results, not my personal qualities – Carlos Queiroz
2 hours