Photographer, Kendall And Kylie Jenner Drop Tupac T-Shirt Lawsuit
A long-running lawsuit against Kendall and Kylie Jenner has been dropped. The suit alleged the two fashion moguls had ripped off imagery used on T-shirts.
Copyright Infringement
A photographer named Michael Miller sued the Jenner sisters over the use of late rapper Tupac Shakur's image last year.
The two women had licensed their own images for use on a series of T-shirts also featuring Shakur and fellow deceased rapper Notorious B.I.G.
The shirts were created as part of the sisters' hugely popular Kendall + Kylie label. They were fiercely criticized on social media upon release, for allegedly capitalizing on dead artists' likenesses.
Miller, who took the photos of Shakur used on the items of clothing in question, alleged that the Jenner sisters used them without permission. The label claimed they were licensed to them by a separate company.
Other T-shirts were briefly marketed also, featuring the likes of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, with the sisters' images superimposed over them, but were quickly pulled following a raft of complaints.
Lawyers for Biggie's mother sent the sisters a cease and desist letter also, in an attempt to stop sale of the T-shirts completely. Likewise Miller sued the two for copyright infrigement.
Calling For A Dismissal
Now, it appears the two parties have come to an agreement. Both sides have paid their own legal fees and a settlement has been reached.
A document filed in federal court Wednesday confirms both parties involved are asking for the case to be dismissed. It's unknown how much, if any, money was paid out for damages.
The Jenner sisters pulled the shirts from their inventory after they were called out for capitalizing on dead rappers images, but they can still be viewed online.
"I am not sure who told @kyliejenner and @kendalljenner that they had the right to do this. The disrespect of these girls to not even reach out to me or anyone connected to the estate baffles me. I have no idea why they feel they can exploit the deaths of 2pac and my Son Christopher to sell a t-shirt. This is disrespectful, disgusting, and exploitation at its worst!!!" wrote Biggie's mother on Instagram at the time.
Not The Best Judges
Kendall and Kylie are no strangers to courting controversy for tone-deaf fashion-related choices, either.
$125 T-shirts with photos of dead rappers are really just the tip of the iceberg, as Kylie is frequently called out for co-opting black culture, while Kendall took part in the infamous, and racially insensitive, Pepsi commercial.
Naturally, the latter was utilized as a plot point on hit reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians.
No word yet on whether their legal battle will also feature in an upcoming episode.
