Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt Photographer Lawsuit Is Going To Trial

Jay Z is a rap legend and there’s no doubt in it. Jigga’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, will always be regarded as a masterpiece. He is also no stranger to legal issues. Now Jay’s Reasonable Doubt lawsuit against the cover photographer failed to reach a settlement and it will go to trial.

Jay-Z sued the photographer who shot the album’s cover art, Jonathan Mannion, in the summer of 2021. JAY-Z claimed Mannion was selling images of Hov without his permission and was using more photos from the session to advertise his company on his website.

“It’s ironic that a photographer would treat the image of a formerly-unknown Black teenager, now wildly successful, as a piece of property to be squeezed for every dollar it can produce. It stops today.”

According to Hnhh, Mannion, who previously photographed album covers for JAY-Z, including his 2003 studio album The Black Album, filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in August. Mannion said JAY-Z and his team were being presumptuous, citing the First Amendment and the Copyright Act.

“(This is a) vitriolic complaint filled with false insinuations of exploitation.”

JAY-Z asserts Mannion gained thousands of dollars from his picture, and the two parties met on January 5 to try to negotiate an agreement. However, as seen by court papers, neither party changed its viewpoint.

“Plaintiff Shawn Carter and Defendants Jonathan Mannion and Jonathan Mannion Photography LLC participated in a mediation before the Honorable Terry Friedman (Ret.) on January 5, 2022. The parties were unable to reach an agreement to resolve this case.”

The case will head to trial with a summer court date on July 22. Both Hov and Mannion appear to be certain that they are in the right. To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.

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