50 Cent, a.k.a. Curtis Jackson, and Taco Bell, a.k.a. Yum! Brands, came to an undisclosed agreement earlier this week, settling the 2008 lawsuit which Jackson claims Taco Bell used his name and trademark without his permission.
The suit was filed after Greg Creed, Taco Bell president, allegedly contacted Jackson and requested he help promote Taco Bell’s Why Pay More value menu promotion by changing his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent, or 99 Cent for the day. In addition, Creed asked if Jackson would rap an order at a Taco Bell drive-thru, and said the company would donate $10,000 to a charity of Jackson’s choice.
Curtis Jackson, AKA 50 Cent
50 Cent’s name and trademark was used without his consent when Taco Bell issued a copy of Creed’s letter to the press without consulting with Jackson first. And when a likeness of the rapper was used in Taco Bell commercials.
In a letter written by Robert Lehrburger, attorney for Taco Bell, that was submitted to New York City Federal Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald, Jackson was referred to as “a self-described former drug dealer and hustler.” The letter also stated that the lawsuit was “another of Jackson’s attempts to burnish his gangsta rapper persona by distorting beyond all recognition a bona fide, good faith offer that Taco Bell made to Jackson.”
Jackson’s lawyer, Peter Raymond, said “both parties are satisfied.”
Related Information
Taco Bell Criticizes 50 Cent Over Lawsuit
50 Cent Wins Suit
Wikipedia – Taco Bell
Yum! Brands, Inc.
50 Cent Before I Self Destruct
Yo, did they really ask Fiddy to change his name to 79 Cent!! That’s hilarious yo! What’s up Greg Creed… I’ll change my name for 10k! Heck, I might just do it for less than that. Hit me up!
From what I understand, this isn’t the first out of the ordinary stunt that Greg Creed and Taco Bell have tried to pull using the media. Quite frankly, I think that even though 50 Cent has more money than he knows what to do with, he is well within is rights to sue these jerks for using his likeness.
This story is too funnay. I can’t believe the nerve of that Taco Bell guy!