A surprisingly fun suit is brewing in the SDNY between rapper Curtis Jackson and Taco Bell Corp. According to the complaint, Taco Bell released a letter (below) on the company’s website. Curtis James Jackson, III, better known as a musician under his trade name “50 Cent,” brough suit seeking over one million dollars in damages for trademark infringement, false designation of sponsorship, and dilution, and an assortment of New York state law claims. Summarized in the complaint:

. . . Taco Bell knew that it would likely have had to pay Jackson a multi-million dollar fee to get his endorsement, even if he had agreed to do it (which is in doubt). Rather than face rejection or pay fair value, Taco Bell chose to steal his endorsement and to enjoy all the publicity of being associated with a mega-star while bearing none of the costs. Jackson brings this action to force Taco Bell to pay for diluting the value of his good name and to recover the fair value of his stolen endorsement.

The Answer, which denies most of the factual allegations, uses the following introduction:

Plaintiff Jackson is a self-described former drug dealer and hustler. He is now a rap music performer who uses the term “50 Cent” to identify himself His work falls in the sub-genre of hip hop music known as “gangsta rap,” a style associated with urban street gangs and characterized by violent, tough-talking braggadocio.

I wonder if the tone of the Answer is intended to provoke publicity.

Filings:

• Curtis James Jackson, III, P/K/A “50 Cent” v. Taco Bell Corp. 08 Civ 6545 (SDNY 2008) (complaint).
• Curtis James Jackson, III, P/K/A “50 Cent” v. Taco Bell Corp. 08 Civ 6545 (SDNY 2008) (answer).
• Curtis James Jackson, III, P/K/A “50 Cent” v. Taco Bell Corp. 08 Civ 6545 (SDNY 2008) (letter exhibit).