Ricky Rozay wins legal war against former drug kingpin
A California appeals court ruled that Rick Ross is allowed to keep his stage name, adding another blow to former drug kingpin "Freeway" Rick Ross's legal war against the MMG boss.
Rozay, aka William Roberts II, is protected under the First Amendment, Judge Roger Boren concluded last week, writing, "We recognize that Roberts' work — his music and persona as a rap musician — relies to some extent on plaintiff's name and persona."
Boren continued stating that the Miami rap star "chose to use the name 'Rick Ross' due to the content of his music, and did not attempt infringement. "He raps about trafficking in cocaine and brags about his wealth. These were 'raw materials' from which Roberts' music career was synthesized. But these are not the 'very sum and substance' of Roberts' work."
The original Ross trafficked as much as $3 million worth of cocaine in a single day before spending more than a decade behind bars. It was there that he learned of his rap namesake highjacking his identity, yet waited until 2010 to file suit against the 37-year-old recording artist. A judge previously rejected the ex-con's $10 million suit, which included Jay Z and later Warner Bros. Records, but the 53-year-old hinged an appeal on grounds that the rapper's most recent record contract extends the statute of limitations.
Sources >>> http://www.bet.com
No comments: