Drake and 21 Savage are being sued by the editors of Vogue magazine.
Conde Nast has filed a lawsuit against the stars for allegedly using the fashion bible’s name without permission to promote their new album, ‘Her Loss’, arguing that the musicians’ ad campaign was based “entirely” on the ‘unauthorized use of Vogue trademarks and false claims that they will appear on the publication’s next cover with “the love and support” of editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
A complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan earlier this week argued that the couple had taken advantage of “the enormous value of a Vogue cover,” adding: “This is all false. And nothing this has been authorized by Conde Nast… .
“Vogue magazine and its editor-in-chief Anna Wintour have had no involvement in Her Loss or its promotion, and have not endorsed it in any way.
“Nor did Condé Nast authorize, let alone support, the creation and widespread dissemination of a bogus issue of Vogue, or a counterfeit version of perhaps one of the most carefully curated covers in the entire publishing business.”
Publishers said Drake and Savage created a fake issue of the magazine that was distributed in major metropolitan areas, accompanied by posters that mimicked Vogue’s design.
They argued that this led to “unmistakable” confusion among members of the public, including the media who hailed the pair as the magazine’s “new cover stars”.
Conde Nast, which is also known as Advance Magazine Publishers Inc., is seeking at least $4 million in damages or three times the profits from the stars of its “fake” album and magazine.
They also seek punitive damages and an end to any trademark infringement.
The publishers said they have tried repeatedly since Oct. 31 to resolve the issues without taking legal action.
They said: “[The] The defendants’ callous disregard for Condé Nast’s rights has left it no choice but to initiate this action.”
