Tattoo artist S. Victor Whitmill designed Mike Tyson’s unique facial tattoo.  He is now suing Warner Bros. Ent. for the (obviously fake) reproduction of the tattoo on Ed Helm’s face in ads for the film and the film itself.

Photo from here.

Whitmill had an agreement with Tyson that Whitmill would retain all ownership rights in the copyright to the tattoo.  According to copyright law, anyone who wishes to use the artwork owned by Whitmill has to contact Whitmill for a license to use the artwork.  Warner Bros. did not get permission to use the artwork.  The use may infringe several aspects of copyright ownership, including reproduction, distribution and adaptation.

Whitmill seeks an injunction — an order to stop the movie’s release.  Warner Bros. has not issued a comment.  While this could go to trial, I doubt it will.  Anyone else smell a settlement?

Original story here.

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Erin M. Jacobson is is an experienced deal negotiator and a seasoned advisor of intellectual property rights who protects artists, songwriters, music publishers, and other music professionals. Her clients include Grammy and Emmy Award winners, independent artists and companies, and distinguished legacy catalogues, as her knowledge of both classic music and current industry practices places her in a unique position to protect and revitalize older catalogues. She handles all types of music industry agreements, with an emphasis on music publishing. In addition to being named a Super Lawyers Rising Star and one of the Top Women Attorneys in Southern California, Ms. Jacobson is a frequent author and speaker, and has been featured in publications, including Billboard and Forbes. She also is on the Board of Directors for both the California Copyright Conference (CCC) and the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP).