Lil Jon has retained an attorney after threatening Live Nation for the use of his song title “Lovers & Friends” for a festival that he’s not even scheduled to play in, according to legal documents obtained by The Shade Room.
The news, first broke by TMZ on Monday, showed court filings of Lil Jon’s attorney, filed against Live Nation, having detailed his efforts to reach a monetary agreement with the wildly popular Las Vegas music festival.
Lil Jon Calls Out Live Nation Festival For Stealing His “Lovers & Friends” Title
The legal document states that the rapper had “trusted Live Nation to do the right thing,” after claiming the concert-promoter’s festival was ripping off the King of Crunk’s 2004 hit “Lovers & Friends,” featuring Usher and Ludacris.
It goes on to say that the name of the song, and of the festival in question, has become “synonymous” with the rapper, and made mention of common law trademark infringement.
Lil Jon reportedly immediately objected to the company’s use of the title, and said he had contacted Live Nation asking where they got a license to use the “Lovers & Friends” name.
“We Don’t Need No Stinking License!” Lil Jon’s Legal Document Claims Live Nation Replied
Live Nation responded essentially “we don’t need no stinking license!” the legal document states.
The threatening letter went on to say that Live Nation has since made the festival an annual thing, further angering Lil Jon.
Lovers & Friends 2022 lineup is here:
Usher, Ciara, Nelly, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Ashanti, Trey Songz, Lauryn Hill + more are on as performers.
It’ll be presented by Live Nation, Snoop Dog, and Bobby Dee.
General admission tickets start at $175 and VIP tickets start at $300. pic.twitter.com/mhEByS0GI1
— MUSICXCLUSIVES (@MusicXclusives) July 29, 2021
“At best, this is a serious infringement of Lil Jon’s common law trademark.”
Rapper Believes Concertgoers Will Believe He Is Involved In Festival Should Live Nation Refuse To Change Name
The rapper’s legal notice also noted that most concertgoers will assume he is involved with the festival, based solely of the festival’s name.
The notice dismissed Live Nation’s efforts to trademark the name with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, which the rapper’s attorney says “does not alter the fact that Lil Jon owns the common law trademark of the name.
The forceful legal letter ended saying the rapper believes he can come to an agreement with Live Nation that could make both parties happy.
Meanwhile, Lil Jon added he’s not afraid to move forward with litigation and a lawsuit should no agreement come to fruition.
