Future is facing a fresh legal challenge after a photographer accused his team of using his work without permission for album artwork and merchandise.
As reported, Atlanta-based photographer Garey C. Gomez filed a copyright infringement lawsuit on Oct. 2 against Titol Retail and Wilburn Holding Company—business entities tied to Future (born Nayvadius DeMun Cash) and his label, Freebandz.
In the filing, Gomez claims the companies “copied Gomez’s copyrighted works from the internet to advertise, market, and promote their business activities,” and further used the images “to promote sales to the public.”
Gomez alleges that two of his photographs, both registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, were used without authorization for the cover of Future’s Mixtape Pluto and on accompanying t-shirts that were sold online.
The photographer says he has suffered “irreparable” harm and is demanding unspecified damages, including “profits attributable to the infringement.”
Mixtape Pluto, which served as Future’s first solo full-length release since I Never Liked You, dropped last September and debuted at No. 1. The project also cemented his record as the first rapper to score three No. 1 albums within six months, following We Don’t Trust You with Metro Boomin and its deluxe version, We Still Don’t Trust You.
