Rapper Travis Scott is reportedly being sued by KontrolFreek, a gaming gear and controller accessories company, for copyright violations. According to Page Six, the company alleges that Scott’s company Cactus Jack “reproduced KontrolFreek’s copyright-protected” product images for their own use.
The claim further states that Scott’s use of the images while streaming on Fortnite gave viewers the impression that the rapper and the company were collaborating. In May, KontrolFreek was contacted to see if they would be willing to “manufacture the Cactus Jack Thumbsticks for Defendants, at no cost.”
Although no agreement was reached, Scott eventually released his own Cactus Jack-branded thumbsticks, which were poorly received by consumers. Some complained about the “the poor quality” of the product, while others said the thumbsticks “were not like ‘normal kontrol freeks’ [sic].”
KontrolFreek eventually discovered copyright violations on the packaging of the Cactus Jack thumbsticks, including the use of their slogan and “identical bullet points.” KontrolFreek is suing Cactus Jack for the company's profits and damages. The gaming gear company has also requested that all sales be halted and remaining stock be destroyed.
Cactus Jack Records was launched in 2017 and features several acts, like Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, Luxury Tax, WondaGurl, and Scott's DJ, Chase B. In April, Scott‘s virtual Astronomical show broke Fortnite‘s streaming records with 12.3 million concurrent players participating in the online event.
The lawsuit against Cactus Jack was filed in the Atlanta division of the Northern District of Georgia. Representatives for Scott have not yet responded to the claims. Earlier this month, Cactus Jack launched a Travis Scott Meal at McDonald’s as well as a sweepstakes for Scott merchandise.
The Cactus Jack thumbsticks are not currently listed on Scott’s online shop, though they can be found online at sites like Ebay where they are being sold for $50. Meanwhile, KontrolFreek’s thumbsticks retail for $14.99 on the company official site. The 29-year-old rapper, who has sold more than 45 million albums, has an estimated net worth of $50 million.
Source: HipHopWired