The property of MF Doom claims in a brand new lawsuit that Chinese language e-commerce big Temu is promoting counterfeit variations of the late hip-hop legend’s iconic merchandise.
Gasoline Drawls LLC, the corporate that has managed MF Doom’s property because the British-born rapper (Daniel Dumile) died suddenly in 2020, filed a federal criticism in opposition to Temu on Monday (Aug. 11).
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The lawsuit accuses Temu of promoting dozens of knock-off t-shirts, hats, posters and different merchandise displaying MF Doom’s identify and the signature masks he would put on whereas performing. These merchandise supposedly rip off merch bought on MF Doom’s official retailer, however “at a far cheaper price level and a fraction of the standard.”
“Such product devalues the topic marks, in addition to plaintiff’s proprietary and licensed merchandise and MF Doom’s standing within the hip hop milieu,” reads the criticism. “It additionally creates a false affiliation between MF Doom and Temu.”
MF Doom’s property says it significantly doesn’t need to be related to Temu as a result of the Chinese language e-commerce big is “one of the unethical corporations working in at the moment’s international market.”
The lawsuit cites “allegations of egregious and horrific enterprise practices” in opposition to Temu, together with claims that it depends on pressured labor and routinely violates customers’ privateness. MF Doom’s property additionally doesn’t like that the counterfeit merch is bought alongside “merchandise that shock the [conscience]” on the Temu market, equivalent to T-shirts that show gang names and homophobic language.
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Gasoline Drawls brings a complete of seven federal and California state claims within the lawsuit, together with trademark infringement, unfair competitors and misappropriation of likeness. The property is looking for a court docket injunction that might power Temu to cease promoting counterfeit merchandise, plus a monetary penalty.
“Plaintiff has sustained important harm and financial damages because of Temu’s wrongful acts as alleged above,” says the lawsuit. “Plaintiff is at current unable to establish the complete extent of the financial damages they’ve suffered by purpose of stated acts.”
Temu didn’t instantly return a request for touch upon Monday.
Named for a monitor off MF Doom’s 1999 debut album Operation: Doomsday, Gasoline Drawls is answerable for managing the late rapper’s catalog and mental property. The corporate sells bodily media and merchandise on an internet retailer, noting that every one purchases “immediately assist Doom’s household and the continuation of his legacy.”
Monday’s lawsuit shouldn’t be the primary time Gasoline Drawls has gone to court docket since MF Doom’s dying. In 2023, the estate sued Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, a label government and former MF Doom collaborator, claiming he’d stolen dozens of personal notebooks wherein the rapper recorded track lyrics, concepts and inventive musings.
Egon denied the property’s claims, and that lawsuit was finally settled out of court docket.