JAY-Z and Roc Nation are currently embroiled in a trademark case with the model administration firm Iconix Brand Group. Iconix, which bought JAY-Z’s Rocawear in 2007, claimed within the 2017 lawsuit that it owns the Roc Nation brand and that JAY-Z is infringing on its trademark by utilizing the brand on Major League Baseball attire. Earlier this 12 months, in accordance with Page Six, Iconix filed for an arbitration continuing towards JAY-Z’s staff, asking them to disclose monetary details about their corporations.
In a brand new growth within the case, JAY-Z’s staff has requested the courtroom to halt arbitration due to an alleged lack of range within the American Arbitration Association (AAA), in accordance with The Hollywood Reporter. In the memorandum, filed as we speak (November 28), JAY-Z’s legal professionals write, “The AAA’s arbitration procedures, and specifically its roster of neutrals for large and complex cases in New York, deprive black litigants like Mr. Carter and his companies of the equal protection of the laws, equal access to public accommodations, and mislead consumers into believing that they will receive a fair and impartial adjudication.”
According to the submitting, “The AAA was able to provide only three neutrals [on its ‘Large and Complex Cases’ roster] it identified as African-American: two men—one of whom was a partner at the law firm representing Iconix in this arbitration and thus had a glaringly obvious conflict of interest—and one woman.”
As a outcome, JAY-Z and his staff declare, “The AAA’s procedures… are contrary to New York public policy and violate the Equal Protection Clause of the New York State Constitution, various state civil rights laws, and the New York Deceptive Practices Act.”
Pitchfork has contacted JAY-Z’s representatives.
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