Update On Lawsuit Against WWE & Floyd Maywearther Jr.
Source: Pwinsider
WWE has until June 10th to respond to the lawsuit brought against them and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. by Anthony Dash. Dash claims that Floyd Mayweather's WrestleMania theme music, which was used several years back, was a version of his originally copyrighted material. Attorneys representing Floyd Mayweather filed a motion back on May 23rd in United States District Court of South Carolina. Their motion requested for the case to either be dismissed, or that the venue be changed because nothing in Dash's suit should be tried in the State of South Carolina.
The lawsuit filed by Dash claims that back in 2005, he created the track titled "Tony Gunz Beat." Dash claims that the WrestleMania 24 event featured Mayweather using the tune "Yup," which, "is music that includes Plaintiff's Tony Gunz Beat track, with lyrics added to the track." The filed suit doesn't attempt to explain how Dash's work may have been used and or turned into the music Mayweather used, but Dash does claim that he owns the filed copyright on the original music.
Dash claims that the defendants have made "millions of dollars" off of his copyrighted work, and has requested that, "all gains, profits and advantages from their act of infringement." The suit alleges that numerous cease and desist orders were sent to Mayweather, but the track has still been used on DVD sales and online videos. The first order was reportedly unanswered, and the second was sent back, unopened. Dash is now requesting $150,000 per copyrighted work infringed upon, as well as preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to stop the defendant's "ongoing infringement of Plaintiff's copyright." The suit is also calling for any and all of the plaintiff's works to be destroyed "or otherwise appropriately disposed of."
Mayweather Promotions and Philthy Rich Records, Inc. were also named in the lawsuit.