Jackson v. Odenat
| Decision Date | 24 March 2014 |
| Docket Number | No. 09 Civ. 5583JFK.,09 Civ. 5583JFK. |
| Citation | 9 F.Supp.3d 342,110 U.S.P.Q.2d 1908 |
| Court | U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York |
| Parties | Curtis James JACKSON, III, p/k/a 50 Cent, Tomorrow Today Entertainment, Inc., and G–Unit Records, Inc., Plaintiffs, v. Lee Q. ODENAT, a/k/a “Q,” d/b/a www.worldstarhiphop.com, Worldstar Hip Hop, Inc., Worldstar, LLC, WSHH337, LLC, John Doe LLC(s)/ Corporation(s), Defendants. Lee Q. Odenat, a/k/a “Q,” d/b/a www.worldstarhiphop.com, Third–Party Plaintiff, v. Yves Mondesir, Third–Party Defendant. |
Moritt Hock Hamroff & Horowitz LLP, by: Michael Cardello, III, Grayrobinson, P.A., by: Karen L. Stetson, for Plaintiffs Curtis James Jackson, III, Tomorrow Today Entertainment, Inc., and G–Unit Records, Inc.
Zarin & Associates P.C., by: Scott Zarin, Esq., for Defendants Worldstar Hip Hop, Inc., Worldstar, LLC, WSHH337, LLC, and Defendant/Third–Party Plaintiff Lee Odenat.
Fazzio Law Offices, by: John P. Fazzio, Katherine Braver, for Third–Party Defendant Yves Mondesir.
This action arises from Defendant Lee Odenat's allegedly unauthorized use of Plaintiff Curtis Jackson's likeness and intellectual property as well as the intellectual property of Plaintiffs Tomorrow Today Entertainment, Inc. (“Tomorrow Today Entertainment”) and G–Unit Records, Inc. (“G–Unit Records”) on Odenat's website, www.worldstarhiphop.com.
Odenat has brought third-party claims against Third–Party Defendant Yves Mondesir, alleging that Mondesir held himself out to be Jackson's agent and authorized Odenat's use of Jackson's likeness and Plaintiffs' intellectual property. Odenat seeks contribution from Mondesir on whatever claims Odenat is found liable to Plaintiffs. Odenat also alleges that Mondesir used the worldstarhip.com URL on a mixtape released by Mondesir without Odenat's authorization.
Plaintiffs filed a supplemental complaint against Defendants Worldstar Hip Hop, Inc.; Worldstar, LLC; and WSHH337, LLC, which are business entities formed by Odenat after Plaintiffs filed their complaint against him. Plaintiffs allege that Odenat made fraudulent transfers to those entities and that the entities are Odenat's alter egos.
Plaintiffs and Defendants now cross-move for summary judgment on all of the claims and affirmative defenses. Mondesir moves for summary judgment or, in the alternative, dismissal of the third-party complaint for failure to satisfy minimal pleading requirements. He also moves for an award of attorney's fees. For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiffs' motion is granted in part and denied in part, Defendants' motion is denied in full, and Mondesir's motion is granted in part and denied in part.
Plaintiff Curtis Jackson is a hip-hop artist professionally known as “50 Cent.” His 2003 debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', and its follow up, The Massacre, have sold over 25 million copies combined. He has also earned a measure of critical acclaim, having been nominated thirteen times for a Grammy Award. (Jackson Decl. ¶ 5.) In addition to his solo career, Jackson is a member of the G–Unit musical group (“G–Unit”), along with members Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks. (Id. ¶ 11; First Odenat Dep. 70–71.)
Jackson also works on the business end of the music industry. He is the president of G–Unit Records and Tomorrow Today Entertainment, both Plaintiffs in this action. G–Unit Records produces and markets G–Unit's music and the music of its members, while Tomorrow Today Entertainment owns and operates the website www.thisis50.com, which covers Jackson, G–Unit, and hip-hop culture and entertainment in general. (Jackson Decl. ¶¶ 12, 22.) Jackson owns registered trademarks for “G–Unit” and “This is 50.” (Id. ¶¶ 13, 23, Exs. 1–2.)
In November 2003, G–Unit Records and Interscope Records (not a party to this action) registered a copyright for a sound recording titled Beg for Mercy, an album released by G–Unit. The registration form noted that the copyright was for “Sound Recording/Pictorial Matter.” (Hilderley Decl. Ex. B.) In October 2005, G–Unit Records and Interscope Records registered a copyright for a sound recording titled Thoughts of a Predicate Felon, a Tony Yayo solo album. The registration form noted that the copyright was for “Most Sound Recording/Pictorial Matter.” (Id. Ex. D.)
Third–Party Defendant Yves Mondesir is a disc jockey. He goes by the name “DJ Whoo Kid,” and has served as a DJ for G–Unit. He also creates mixtapes, or compilations that include the music of various artists, and distributes them to retailers for promotional purposes. (Mondesir Dep. 26–33.) Sometime in 2005, he released a mixtape titled Are You a Window Shopper? that included songs by Jackson. The URL www.worldstarhiphop.com appeared on the very bottom of the back of the mixtape packaging along with “the NEW # 1 mixtape site.” (Zarin Decl. Ex. I.)
In July 2005, Defendant Lee Odenat launched the website www.worldstarhiphop. com. The website has featured hip-hop mixtapes, as well as videos of hip-hop musicians. (Odenat Decl. ¶ 5.) From some time in 2005 until March 2009 (with a several month hiatus during 2007 when the website was inactive), Odenat's website used three different mastheads that included images of Jackson. Although neither party is sure of the precise dates, they have agreed on a rough timeline. The first masthead was displayed from 2005 until mid–2006 and included images of Jackson, Mondesir, and hip-hop artists Lil Wayne, Jim Jones, Jay–Z, Young Jeezy, and Chamillionaire. (Id. ¶ 9, Ex. B.) From mid–2006 through April 2007, the website displayed a different masthead with images of Jackson, Mondesir, G–Unit members Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks, and hip-hop artist Young Buck. This masthead also included a link labeled “G–Unit Radio.” The link led to a webpage displaying thumbnails of the cover art for several mixtapes in a series of mixtapes called “G–Unit Radio.” (Id. ¶¶ 11–14, Exs. C–D.) The phrase “Click Here To Hear A Sampler” is next to each thumbnail. (Id. Ex. D.) Until April 2007, Odenat charged worldstarhiphop.com viewers a fee. From April 2007 until January 2008, the website was nonoperational. (First Odenat Dep. 147–48.) After relaunch, the site no longer charged a fee and, until March 2009, used a new masthead that featured images of Jackson, Jay–Z, and hip-hop artist Jim Jones. (Id. at 24–26; Odenat Decl. Ex. E.)
Plaintiffs commenced this action on June 18, 2009, alleging that Odenat violated their intellectual property rights, used Jackson's image without permission, and misled the public into believing Odenat's website was associated with or endorsed by Jackson and G–Unit Records. The allegedly infringed intellectual property includes the “G–Unit” trademark, photographs of Jackson, a photograph of Tony Yayo from Thoughts of a Predicate Felon, and a photograph of Lloyd Banks from Beg for Mercy. Plaintiffs seek money damages from and injunctive relief against Odenat under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §§ 501 –505 ; sections 32 and 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114, 1125(a) ; and sections 50 and 51 of the New York Civil Rights Law. Plaintiffs also seek money damages from Odenat for unfair competition under New York common law.
Odenat's answer, filed July 28, 2009, raises a number of affirmative defenses, including that Plaintiffs' claims are barred by the doctrines of fair use, license, equitable estoppel, and unclean hands. After the filing of the answer, in September 2009, Odenat incorporated Defendant Worldstar Hip Hop, Inc. in Nevada.
In October 2010, Plaintiffs consented to the filing of Odenat's third-party complaint in which Mondesir was joined as a third-party defendant. Odenat seeks indemnification from Mondesir under a theory of contributory copyright infringement, contributory trademark infringement, and contribution for violation of New York Civil Rights Law §§ 50, 51. Odenat also seeks money damages for false designation of origin arising out of Mondesir's use of the worldstarhiphop.com URL on Are You a Window Shopper?.
After the filing of the third-party complaint, Odenat formed Defendants WSHH337, LLC and Worldstar, LLC as Delaware limited liability companies in February 2011. (Zarin Decl. Exs. B–C.) In July 2011, Worldstar Hip Hop, Inc. registered the trademark “World Star Hip Hop.” (Id. Ex. E.) Worldstar Hip Hop, Inc. then assigned the trademark to Worldstar LLC in September 2011. (Id. Ex. F.)
Plaintiffs filed a supplemental complaint against Worldstar Hip Hop, Inc.; WSHH337, LLC; and Worldstar, LLC. Plaintiffs allege that Odenat created these business entities and transferred assets, including www.worldstarhiphop.com, to them in “not-for-value transactions.” Plaintiffs seek to enjoin these entities and hold them liable for the claims against Odenat as his alter ego under a theory of fraudulent transfer.
Summary judgment is appropriate when “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a) ; see also Zann Kwan v. Andalex Grp. LLC, 737 F.3d 834, 843 (2d Cir.2013). A fact is “material” if it could affect the outcome of the case under the governing substantive law. Spinelli v. City of N.Y., 579 F.3d 160, 166 (2d Cir.2009). A dispute over a material fact is “genuine” if there is evidence that could allow a “reasonable jury” to “return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” McElwee v. Cnty. of Orange, 700 F.3d 635, 640 (2d Cir.2012) (internal quotation marks omitted). The moving party has the initial burden to show the absence of a genuinely disputed material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). If the movant's burden is met, then the nonmoving party must provide evidence to show that there is a genuine factual dispute. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248–49, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The Court construes the...
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