 A few months back we told you about the mother of the Civil Rights Movement taking offense to Outkast and their song Rosa Parks. Her lawyers felt the group had exploited her name and violated her Right of Publicity' A shocked Outkast responded by saying they were inspired by Rosa Parks and their hit song was in a sense a tribute to her. They maintained they had never intended to defame Ms Parks. Unfortunately, Sista Rosa wasn't buying it. She pointed out that the song contained expletives, racial slurs and offensive language and it was used solely for commercial gain. The fact that Outkast was making money and didn't bother to break off Ms Parks a little 'some'em some'em' until after the fact meant her Right To Publicity was violated. In other words you can't use someone's name or likeness without consent unless it has an overriding public benefit. Now, me personally, I think Outkast made Rosa Parks even more of a household name. While its true they didn't really break it down in the song as to who she was and what she did, they did bring an artistic interpretation of her name to the song and hopefully raised awareness. It's not like folks weren't gonna buy the Aquemini album if they had changed the song title.. In any case Rosa parks has launched a lawsuit against Outkast, their label La Face records and the parent company Arista records. That lawsuit finally came to court this week in Ann Arbor Michigan. Ironically the lawyer who is representing Outkast is a lawyer who has made a name for himself defending martin Luther Kings family for unauthorized use of the slain activist's name.
|