Jay-Z Named In Trademark Infringement Suit Filed By Wrestler Diamond Dallas Page

A federal judge granted a motion to add Rocawear owners Roc Apparel Group LLC, Urban Menswear LLC and Rocawear Licensing LLC to a trademark and copyright infringement suit filed by professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page.

The suit, which was originally filed December 2 of last year, claims the hip-hop heavyweight has illegally adopted Page's trademark hand gesture -- the Diamond Cutter -- as his own.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles Federal Court, accuses Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records of trademark and copyright infringement, as well as misappropriation of the hand symbol. The wrestler is seeking an injunction (meaning Jay-Z would be prohibited from using the gesture) and unspecified monetary damages.

Earlier this year, Diamond Dallas Page discovered that Jay-Z's clothing line, Rocawear, manufactured and sold merchandise displaying the diamond cutter symbol, which prompted the request that the clothing line be included in the lawsuit.

Page claims to have started using the hand sign to promote his persona in 1996, while working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). As his popularity increased, so did the recognition of the sign as his trademark, by fans, athletes and celebrities. As he moved on from wrestling to other entertainment and business ventures, he has continued to use the sign as a brand-building logo. Currently, his "Yoga For Regular Guys" DVD series and book, and his soon to be released Own Your Life motivational audio book, all featured the trademark symbol.

The wrestler also said as his success as a wrestler grew, so did sales of his merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, stationary, posters and action figures, which featured the Diamond Cutter trademark.

Neither Page nor Jay-Z were available for comment at press time.

Source: BallerStatus.Net