Rick Ross’ long standing legal battle to keep his rap name “Rick Ross” has now come to an end after a California appeals court ruled in favor of the Maybach Music boss.
Ross, real name William Leonard Roberts II, was sued by convicted drug kingpin Freeway Ricky Ross for $10 million, citing his name was stolen and exploited it for personal gain. The case was later dismissed (March 2013), but Freeway refiled in an appeals court, only to see the judge uphold the previous ruling.
Judge Roger Boren’s ruling states:
“Roberts created a celebrity identity, using the name Rick Ross, of a cocaine kingpin turned rapper. He was not simply an impostor seeking to profit solely off the name and reputation of Rick Ross. Rather, he made music out of fictional tales of dealing drugs and other exploits – some of which related to plaintiff. Using the name and certain details of an infamous criminal's life as basic elements, he created original artistic works.”
Freeway Rick Ross was incarcerated for 13 years for his part in a cocaine empire in the 1980s and 1990s. He was released from jail in 2009.
Congratulations, Rick Ross fans! You’ll be happy to hear that your favorite rapper has won a legal battle to keep his stage name. The case was between Rick Ross and Freeway Ricky Ross, who claimed that the rapper’s use of the name infringed on his trademark rights.
After a long and heated legal battle, the court has finally made its decision: Rick Ross can keep his stage name. This is great news for the rapper, who has been using the name for over a decade and has built a successful career around it.
Fans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they will not have to adjust to a new moniker anytime soon. So how did this all play out in court? Let’s take a closer look at the case and what led up to this decision.
The Legal Battle Between Rick Ross and Freeway Ricky Ross
You might think you know all about the legal battle between Rick Ross and Freeway Ricky Ross, but let me tell you, there’s more to this story than just a dispute over a stage name.
The feud began in 2010 when Freeway Ricky Ross filed a lawsuit against rapper Rick Ross (real name William Roberts II) for using his name without permission.
Freeway Ricky Ross claimed that he was the ‘true’ Rick Ross, having been a notorious drug kingpin in the 1980s and early 1990s. He argued that the use of his name in hip-hop culture was damaging to his reputation and violated his rights.
However, things were not so clear-cut. The judge ultimately ruled in favor of Rick Ross, stating that while there may be some confusion among fans regarding the use of the name, it did not rise to the level of trademark infringement.
This decision allowed Rick Ross to keep using his stage name and effectively ended the legal battle between him and Freeway Ricky Ross.
The Court’s Decision to Allow Rick Ross to Keep His Stage Name
Hey, did you hear the news? The court just ruled in favor of the rapper’s right to continue performing under his chosen moniker! That’s right, Rick Ross can keep his stage name despite a long-standing legal battle with former drug kingpin Freeway Ricky Ross.
The decision comes as a relief to fans and supporters of the rapper, who has been using the name for over a decade. But it also serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting your intellectual property.
In this case, both parties claimed ownership of the name ‘Rick Ross,’ but ultimately, it was determined that the rapper had established himself as an artist under that identity.
So what does this mean for other artists? It underscores the need to register trademarks and copyrights early on in your career and to seek legal protection if someone tries to infringe on your rights.
While it can be tempting to choose a stage name based on pop culture or current events, it’s important to consider how it may affect your brand down the line. As Rick Ross has shown us, sometimes even seemingly innocuous choices can lead to years-long legal battles.
Conclusion
So there you have it! You can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Rick Ross will be keeping his stage name. Despite the legal battle with Freeway Ricky Ross, the court has ruled in favor of the rapper.
This decision allows him to continue using his well-known moniker and avoid any potential confusion or rebranding efforts. It’s clear that this was an important victory for Rick Ross and his career.
With his stage name being such a vital part of his persona and brand, losing it could have had significant consequences. But now, he can continue making music under the name Rick Ross without any further legal battles to worry about.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
