Martin Shkreli has a new problem: Artist sues over portraits on $2-million Wu-Tang Clan album

[dixiegrrrrl]

The former drug company executive’s one-of-a-kind, US$2 million Wu-Tang Clan album includes nine portraits of the rap group’s founding members used without permission, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court.
The artist, Jason Koza, has sued Shkreli, record producers Robert “RZA” Diggs and Tarik “Cilvaringz” Azzougarh, and Paddle8, the online auction startup hired to sell the album.

Koza, an artist and musician in Copiague, New York, claims he created portraits of each of the group’s founders for the fan website WuDisciples.blogspot.com in late 2013 and early 2014 but never agreed to their use in the 174-page book that accompanied the album, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.”

He says that on Jan. 29 he saw an article published by Vice.com including photos of three of his Wu-Tang Clan portraits: “Raekwon-Koza,” “Inspecta Deck-Koza” and “Ol’ Dirty B–tard-Koza.” He claims he applied for registration with the U.S. Copyright Office on Feb. 1, and that Shkreli infringed his rights by allowing the three portraits to be publicly displayed.

Koza is seeking unspecified damages from Diggs, Azzougarh, Paddle8 and Shkreli for infringing copyright and from Diggs, Azzougarh and Paddle8 for violating an implied contract with the artist. .

http://business.financialpost.com/legal-post/martin-shkreli-has-a-new-problem-artist-sues-over-portraits-on-2-million-wu-tang-clan-album

[linuxman]

1. Why sue Shkreli?

He only bought the item. The album was not created by him, and he didn't put their pictures on it.

It would be like suing me if I bought a painting at a yard sale that the owner sold me after having ripped the design off an original.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Says why, in the excerpt I posted:

"and that Shkreli infringed his rights by allowing the three portraits to be publicly displayed. "

[romanic]

3. Honestly.

This whole situation is idiotic. I've said enough about that scumbucket Martin but Wu-Tang kind of deserve this shit to be honest. The "one of a kind" album reeked of elitism; having a fucking jerk buy it and hold it hostage serves them right for that stunt.