Diddy Facing $10 Million Lawsuit For Allegedly Stealing Trademark Rights To ‘Act Bad’ To Sell Music & Merchandise

Diddy Facing $10 Million Lawsuit For Allegedly Stealing Trademark Rights To ‘Act Bad’ To Sell Music & Merchandise

Music mogul Diddy continues to find himself battling legal allegations.

According to new reports, Diddy was recently sued by a former business associate who is accusing him of theft and contract violation.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Reportedly, the lawsuit was filed by an inmate at the Collins Correctional Facility in New York named Charles Kenyatta Jr.

The plaintiff, also reportedly known as Charlie Cee, claims in the legal document that he had a binding agreement with Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ company Bad Boy Part 4 LLC, which held his trademark for the Act Bad brand. However, he says he never gave permission for the trademark to be capitalized on, despite Diddy doing so. If you recall, last year the Bad Boy founder released a single of the same name featuring City Girls and Fabolous. He then proceeded to perform the record and sell merchandise with the phrase as well.

Upon realizing the trademark was allegedly being used unlawfully, Kenyatta’s suit claims his lawyer attempted to reach out to Diddy regarding the matter but was continuously ignored. Explaining how the trademark was taken for profit without his knowledge, the plaintiff’s lawsuit reportedly details:

“The Certificate of Engagement and release Bad Boy Part 4 LLC contract was made and signed without the consent, assent or knowledge of Charles Kenyatta Jr….Plaintiff was entered into a contract with Sean Combs, owner of Bad Boy Part 4 LLC, without consent.”

Charles Kenyatta Jr.

It continues:

“The contract was sent to Plaintiff’s Entertainment Lawyer Andrew Covington on June 1st, 2023. The Plaintiff’s lawyer contacted defendant Sean Combs’ Lawyer Pamela Gurley and was told the contract was agreed by both parties. After that, Defendant Sean Comb’s lawyer stopped answering emails from Plaintiff’s Lawyer Andrew Covington.”

Kenyatta went on in the complaint to claim that Diddy, along with another individual involved who is only referenced as John Doe, worked together to force him out of the original trademark agreement. Alleging that Diddy purposefully infringed on the Act Bad trademark in bad faith, Kenyatta reportedly adds in the suit:

“Sean Combs made a song called ‘ACT BAD’ and wanted to [sell] Act Bad merchandise, a percentage of the net profits for recorded song and music video, also a percentage of merchandise T-shirts, hats, etc….Charles Kenyatta Jr did not sign [the] contract because he was incarcerated, and any contract should be [forwarded] to his Power of Attorney to sign on his behalf. Secondly, it was another person’s name on the contract that had to be removed. The percentage was not of Plaintiff’s liking, there was no upfront or advance monetary and it was a bunch of miscellaneous things plaintiff wanted to remove off contract.”

And continues:

“The defendant Sean Combs and John Doe had a scheme to illegally squeeze out Plaintiff Charles Kenyatta Jr. from the contract. Plaintiff’s lawyer told Defendant Sean Comb’s lawyer John Doe has no ownership of Act Bad and should not be on the contract. A few weeks after that the defendant Sean Combs and John Doe were seen on stage performing the song ‘Act Bad’ together. After defendant Sean Combs and John Doe signed contract without Charles Kenyatta Jr.’s consent, the defendant Sean Combs use of trademark caused confusion as to the affiliation, connection.”

Kenyatta, who is reportedly representing himself in the case, is suing Diddy for trademark infringement and breach of contract. He’s reportedly seeking $10 million in damages, adding in the complaint that the musician’s recent sexual assault allegations have further tarnished his brand. It has not been reported that Diddy nor anyone from his team has responded to the suit at this time.

[VIA]

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