---
he superstar rapper and wealthy music mogul filed a trademark infringement lawsuit Tuesday against the creators of a humorous new Kanye West-themed digital currency called "COINYE" that launched last week.
The logo for the currency, which is bought and sold over the Internet, features a cartoon version of West wearing his signature "shutter shades."
"Defendants have willfully and admittedly traded upon the goodwill and notoriety of Kanye West, one of the most famous entertainers and brand names in the world," claims the suit filed in Manhattan federal court, which seeks unspecified damages.
The suit refers to COINYE as a "crypto-currency" because it exists only as computer code, not in any physical form. Bitcoin is the most well-known crypto-currency.
"In interviews with the press, defendants brazenly admit that they adopted the marks COINYE WEST, COINYE and COYE to directly associate their newly minted crypto-currency with Mr. West," the suit states.
RELATED: KANYE WEST THREATENS LEGAL ACTION OVER COINYE DIGITAL CURRENCY
The "College Dropout" rapper, who had a baby daughter with fiancée Kim Kardashian last year, claims the COINYE creators are damaging his brand.
"With each day that passes, Mr. West's reputation is irreparably harmed … Consumers are likely to mistakenly believe that Mr. West is the source of these digital coins," the suit alleges.
To demonstrate the problem, the suit lists 18 tweets posted by consumers about the new currency.
"Kanye West now has a currency," Twitter user Christopher Hudson wrote on Jan. 2, the suit notes.
"Move over bitcoin, @kanyewest is about to create the greatest digital currency of all time," Chase Graves tweeted, according to the suit.
West filed a cease-and-desist letter on Jan. 6. But the defendants defied the "Gold Digger" hip-hopper by moving forward, the suit claims.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/anye-west-sues-coinye-themed-digital-currency-trademark-infringement-article-1.1579164#ixzz2qWQkjNpA
---
More -- > http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/anye-west-sues-coinye-themed-digital-currency-trademark-infringement-article-1.1579164
What do you guys think?
he superstar rapper and wealthy music mogul filed a trademark infringement lawsuit Tuesday against the creators of a humorous new Kanye West-themed digital currency called "COINYE" that launched last week.
The logo for the currency, which is bought and sold over the Internet, features a cartoon version of West wearing his signature "shutter shades."
"Defendants have willfully and admittedly traded upon the goodwill and notoriety of Kanye West, one of the most famous entertainers and brand names in the world," claims the suit filed in Manhattan federal court, which seeks unspecified damages.
The suit refers to COINYE as a "crypto-currency" because it exists only as computer code, not in any physical form. Bitcoin is the most well-known crypto-currency.
"In interviews with the press, defendants brazenly admit that they adopted the marks COINYE WEST, COINYE and COYE to directly associate their newly minted crypto-currency with Mr. West," the suit states.
RELATED: KANYE WEST THREATENS LEGAL ACTION OVER COINYE DIGITAL CURRENCY
The "College Dropout" rapper, who had a baby daughter with fiancée Kim Kardashian last year, claims the COINYE creators are damaging his brand.
"With each day that passes, Mr. West's reputation is irreparably harmed … Consumers are likely to mistakenly believe that Mr. West is the source of these digital coins," the suit alleges.
To demonstrate the problem, the suit lists 18 tweets posted by consumers about the new currency.
"Kanye West now has a currency," Twitter user Christopher Hudson wrote on Jan. 2, the suit notes.
"Move over bitcoin, @kanyewest is about to create the greatest digital currency of all time," Chase Graves tweeted, according to the suit.
West filed a cease-and-desist letter on Jan. 6. But the defendants defied the "Gold Digger" hip-hopper by moving forward, the suit claims.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/anye-west-sues-coinye-themed-digital-currency-trademark-infringement-article-1.1579164#ixzz2qWQkjNpA
---
More -- > http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/anye-west-sues-coinye-themed-digital-currency-trademark-infringement-article-1.1579164
What do you guys think?
