Daniel Arsham Hits Quavo with Copyright Lawsuit

Lawsuit Filed by Daniel Arsham: Alleges Copyright Infringement and Violation of Right to Publicity against Quavo

Quavo, a member of the popular group Migos, is facing charges for copyright infringement and violation of right to publicity, as he showcased one of artist Daniel Arsham’s Ferrari sculptures in the “Trappa Rappa” promotional video without obtaining necessary legal consent.

On March 31st, a complaint was filed in Manhattan’s Southern District of New York by Arsham, alleging that a video, which includes Quavo performing in front of the artwork titled “Quartz Eroded 1961 Ferrari GT” (2018), infringes his copyright. This artwork is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Additionally, Quavo shared still images from the sculpture on Instagram and tagged Arsham’s account in them.

In December 2024, Arsham and his lawyers delivered stop-and-stop orders to Quavo’s label, Quality Control Music, as well as its umbrella company, HYBE America, regarding content that was initially published. This action was repeated in January 2025. Despite the video being removed from YouTube and Instagram, it continues to be accessible on TikTok, the rapper’s platform of choice.

As a gamer, I can rephrase it like this: “I didn’t get Mr. Arsham’s approval to use his artwork or pay him for its use, which means I’ve been skipping out on license fees and other financial costs related to getting the right to utilize the artwork, as well as the restrictions he could have placed on its use if he had given me permission. These restrictions might even include the power to refuse permission altogether.

Arsham is filing a lawsuit against Quavo, claiming that he exploited Arsham’s art for personal profit by using it without permission. The lawsuit alleges copyright infringement in its direct, indirect, and contributory forms. Arsham seeks a court order to stop the use of the artwork permanently, as well as financial compensation for any earnings made from the unauthorized use.

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2025-04-10 20:26