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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Jay-Z is suing a celebrity photographer in Los Angeles, alleging the cameraman is selling copies of photographs of the rapper/mogul online without permission, according to court papers obtained today.
Jay-Z -- whose legal name is Shawn Carter -- alleges that Jonathan Mannion is misusing the rapper's image “on the arrogant assumption that because he took those photographs, he can do with them as he pleases,'' the complaint states. “But Jay-Z never gave Mannion the right to use his likeness for these or any other purposes.''
A message to Mannion seeking comment was not immediately answered.
The complaint, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles federal court, contends that Mannion -- who shot the cover of Jay-Z's 1996 debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,'' among other photos of the rapper -- is illegally profiting from the rapper's likeness on photo prints, shirts and turntable mats, and is licensing his image to others without permission.
The suit seeks damages from the photographer for allegedly violating Jay-Z's publicity rights.
The multiple Grammy Award-winning rapper is married to Beyonce.
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