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Kanye Vs. Coinye Continues
A lawsuit filed by Kanye West in January against the anonymous creators of a virtual currency dubbed Coinye West just got a little more real as the complaint was amended to include names of the alleged parties who “traded upon the goodwill and notoriety” of West.
Photo: Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP, File
17th Annual Hollywood Film Awards Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Defendants David McEnery, Robbie Hontele, Harry Wills, Al Ra, among others, appear to be a worldly bunch, hailing from the U.S., Netherlands, U.K., New Zealand, Slovakia and China.
The complaint contends the defendants used West’s name and likeness in order to boost the value of their crypto-currency.
It also notes they admitted in interviews that they “chose to represent Kanye because he is and always has been a trendsetter, and he’s always keeping things unique” and said they’d “love it if Kanye name dropped ‘Coinye” … We don’t want to pay him off to name check us, but it’d be sick if he does so.”
West says his reputation was irreparably harmed by the use of the Coinye West, Coinye and Coye names in connection with the trading of the virtual currency, which appeared to be abandoned by the developers just days after its introduction following a cease and desist order.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in New York, brings forth claims of violations of right of privacy and publicity, trademark infringement, unfair competition, violation of the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, trademark dilution and unjust enrichment, among others.
West is seeking a permanent injunction to keep the Coinye developers from using the name and offering the currency for trade, damages, costs and attorneys’ fees.