Snoop Dogg and JT Tha Bigga Figga are being sued for making unauthorized sequels to a movie that they do not own the right to which violates US copyright laws. Snoop Dogg and JT Tha Bigga Figga produced, released marketed two indipendent films entitled ‘Snow on tha Bluff 2’ and ‘Snow on tha Bluff 3′ through JT Tha Bigga Figga’s streaming and distribution service Trapflix.com.
The writer and director of the film “Snow on tha Bluff”; Damon Russell and his company Fuzzy Logic Productions filed a lawsuit on Friday on August 14 in a California federal court.
In the Russell says that he and Curtis Snow, a resident of “The Bluff” an infamously rough Atlanta neighborhood; had agreed to work Snoop Dogg; real name Calvin Broadus and JT Tha Bigga Figga real name Joseph Tom together on “Snow on tha Bluff,” which was loosely based on Snow’s life.
In June 2012 Russell’s company Fuzzy Logic productions released “Snow on tha Bluff,” a movie about a fictional drug dealer loosely based on star Curtis Snow’s experiences living in the Bluff, Atlanta’s roughest neighborhood.
Russell claims that the defendants Snoop Dogg and JT Tha Bigga Figga violated trademark laws by making unauthorized sequels to “Snow on tha Bluff,” spelling it the same way and distributing them as a “Trapflix exclusive” with JT The Bigga Figga credited as the story’s writer. The unauthorized sequels utilizes the same documentary style cinematography of the original film, shot similar scenes in similar locations and stars several of the original actors, according to the lawsuit.
Russell states “the defendants are clearly attempting to trade on the name recognition attached to Fuzzy Logic’s work while at the same time displacing Fuzzy Logic as the source of ‘Snow on tha Bluff’ works and products in the relevant market,” the complaint states.”
Damon Russell says, his company Fuzzy Logic productions contacted Snoop Dogg’s attorney with proof that it is the film’s sole copyright owner and asked that the defendants stop selling products bearing the trade name, but they refused, according to the complaint. JT the Bigga Figga offered to buy the trademark from Russell, but when Russell said no, JT “became combative and aggressive, and indicated that he intended to continue his infringing activities,” the complaint states.
Alleging copyright infringement, false advertising, false designation and other counts, Russell and Fuzzy Logic productions are seeking unspecified damages.