Hoodlove LLC reportedly has filed a lawsuit against ROC Apparel Group, claiming that the company has the trademark of the phrase 'HoodLove' plastered in Rocawear's t-shirt.
- Aug 27, 2013
AceShowbiz - Jay-Z's Rocawear apparently has been hit with a legal problem. According to a New York Post report, a for-profit, Essex county, NJ-based company Hoodlove LLC has filed a trademark-infringement lawsuit against ROC Apparel Group over the phrase "HoodLove" which is featured on Rocawear's t-shirt. The company reportedly filed the suit in Manhattan federal court earlier this month.
HoodLove claims that they have owned the rights for "Hood Love" phrase since 2006. As stated in the suit, the company says that the "unauthorized use of the Infringing Apparel is likely to cause confusion" and "deceive customers" into believing that the two are "affiliated."
HoodLove is suing for profits made from the t-shirts. In addition, the company wants the products to be removed from stores. Representatives for both companies did not comment on the report.
Rocawear was created by Jay-Z and Damon "Dame" Dash in 1999. The rap mogul sold the rights to Rocawear to Iconix Brand Group for US $204 million in 2007, but he stays as the company's creative consultant.
In June, Rocawear reportedly was sued for not paying its bill. Rocawear apparently owed iSource NYC about $500,000 for garments which were produced in Pakistan and shipped to New York in 2012. iSource also demanded Rocawear to pay 9 percent of interest. The bill was due in summer 2012.
