Freeway Rick Ross Sues Rapper Rick Ross, Again
The real Rick Ross is suing Rick Ross the rapper, again! Ross’ first lawsuit for trademark infringement against Rozay was dismissed but Rick is now back at it again in a California state court on May 2nd. Can’t wait to find out which Rick Ross wins! Hit the jump for more details.
@Julie1205
After losing a court battle last year to rapper Rick Ross, the real Rick Ross is lashing out at the emcee again with a brand new lawsuit.
As previously reported, Freeway Rick Ross, noted for being a drug trafficker that spent over a decade behind bars, lost a trademark infringement case after a judge ruled that he could not properly trademark his name due to the wide use of it in magazines, television, and media.
In an exclusive interview with BET.com, Freeway Ross revealed that he has attained new legal representation from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP and he’s gearing up to present his case in California state court on May 2.
The Los Angeles street legend believes he has a better shot at winning in state court now that the California-based law firm picked up the case on a “contingency bases.â€
Speaking on the case he tells BET,
“We always knew our case was stronger in the state than it was in the feds. California state law really protects people with their names and their likenesses. So we knew that was stronger inside California than it was in the feds, but we wanted to go the big route first then work our way down.â€
In the previous suit, filed in June 2010, the real Ross was seeking compensation from the rapper Ross, Jay-Z, Def Jam Records, Universal Music Group and others, for trademark violations, unfair competition and misappropriation of his publicity rights.
The judge dismissed the case on the grounds that the real Ross did not show enough evidence of secondary usage by the rapper.
Now with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, on his side, Freeway still plans to name the same defendants, but threatened to include Warner Music Group if they use his name as part of their recent partnership with the rapper Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group.
“I’ll slap a lawsuit on them as well,†Ross promises. “They better not put my name on his product or I’ma be after them, too. I ain’t scared of none of them.â€
The real Ross is confident that in this second round of legal proceedings he’ll regain ownership of his name in order for it to be used in a better light.
“We’re both teaching two different messages,†says Freeway Ross. “He’s teaching my old life: sell drugs, disrespect women, all the things that really have our country in shambles. I’m teaching uplifting values, education, literacy. He’s teaching illiteracy.â€
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please negro go sit down somewhere you are just broke and loney loser
Homie should change his name to winklevoss…
the real rick ross is not #winning … they only appreciate this story on Thisis50 GTFOH wit this BS
Why can’t people just work hard for their success….why sue ???. Smh
Fuck this snitch ass nicca.
Reading the comments just shows how messed up our culture is… William Roberts took a living-breathing mans life story and name.. William Roberts is a talented artist, but when you steal a persons life that is IDENTITY THIEF…
This is not like when Denzel played Malcolm x or when Jamie Foxx played Ray.. This is a dude who mother has a PHD, brought him a house, who went to college, never been in trouble in his life(in order to become a CO you must obtain a Secret clearance..
WHAT IF I STARTED DOING SHOWS USING FLEX NAME AS MY OWN, STARTED CLAIMING ALL HE HAS DONE…
Our culture is dying right in front of us, FRAUD, DOWN-LO but boys or killing what we have built……
Hi, NYC4Lyfe, everyone named John Smith should sue eachother for identity theft, right? Surname does not equal your real name.
You cannot claim identity theft if someone has your name, ESPECIALLY, in entertainment. You simply don’t own your name. In reality, even another artist could call himself “Rick Ross”; it wouldn’t be smart, but it could be done. Fact is, the rapper “Freeway” could be named in this lawsuit as well, but isn’t. Why? Because he’s only using a name. Rozay is no different.
Freeway is receiving very bad legal advice. It really is sad, and I’m not even an attorney. All it takes is some diligent internet searching and some common sense.
Some of you are being short-sighted. Freeway Rick Ross is a REAL PERSON. What Roberts (the obese rapper) did was co-opt the name and reputation of a REAL person.
Now, we don’t know what the obese rapper will do in his life in the future. What if he molests kids? What if HE is found in a car with transsexuals? Would YOU want somebody having your name that has a shitty reputation? Whenever someone googles you, some obese pedophile comes up?
It was bootleg of the fat prison guard to falsify his background and to steal the name of a REAL PERSON. Hell, why would the obese corrections officer even WANT to keep the name of someone who wants nothing to do with him? That is bitch shit.
Give the real RR his name back.
Consider someone getting rich off your name, hard work and not giving yous dime or atleast recognition. I pray the real rick ross wins because it is, infringement on his name. Everybody saying this man is a loser, blah blah blah, your dumb as fuck. This man fed kids, and helped communities struck by drugs and poverty issued by our government. Y’all dumb asses gone be the casualties of the next American revolution. Get educated