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Mike Tyson's tattoo artist sues 'Hangover' filmmakers
Mike Tyson's tattoo artist is mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore!
S. Victor Whitmill -- the Missouri-based tattoo artist responsible for that thing on Tyson's face -- is suing the filmmakers of "The Hangover" sequel for copyright infringement, Gawker reports.
In the film, Ed Helms' character wakes up after a crazy night in Bangkok with the same tattoo on his face that the first film's guest star has. Whitmill claims to own the design -- he copyrighted it in 2003 -- and is suing Warner Bros. to prevent them from using it in the film. He is also suing for unspecified monetary damages.
Whitmill applied the tattoo (called "Tribal Tattoo") in 2003 and claims Tyson signed a release saying Whitmill was the "sole creator, author and owner of all rights, including copyright, in the Original Tattoo, which is original and fixed in a tangible medium of expression."
"The Hangover Part II" hit theaters --with or without Tyson's tattoo -- on May 26.
S. Victor Whitmill -- the Missouri-based tattoo artist responsible for that thing on Tyson's face -- is suing the filmmakers of "The Hangover" sequel for copyright infringement, Gawker reports.
In the film, Ed Helms' character wakes up after a crazy night in Bangkok with the same tattoo on his face that the first film's guest star has. Whitmill claims to own the design -- he copyrighted it in 2003 -- and is suing Warner Bros. to prevent them from using it in the film. He is also suing for unspecified monetary damages.
Whitmill applied the tattoo (called "Tribal Tattoo") in 2003 and claims Tyson signed a release saying Whitmill was the "sole creator, author and owner of all rights, including copyright, in the Original Tattoo, which is original and fixed in a tangible medium of expression."
"The Hangover Part II" hit theaters --with or without Tyson's tattoo -- on May 26.
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Photo/Video credit: Getty Images/ Warner Bros.
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the tattoo is slightly different so he will lose his case.
***** *** *****
and the pathetic douche of the day award goes to...
Might be slightly different but is obviously copied from the original and due to Tyson being in the first film they can show reason to believe it is supposed to be the same tattoo.
"[...] and is suing Warner Bros. to prevent them from using it in the film."
A little late for that, eh? What are they going to do? Stop the film's release, go back and reshoot all those scenes with a different tattoo? Come the **** on.
What was WB thinking?!!!! You would have thought they would have thought about the consequences of stealing art from the little guy.
Just because Hangover wanted to use the design doesn't make it theirs.
If the roles were switched, WB would be hauling this guys *** to court and flexing it's muscle.
I agree, at least he's only keeping them from releasing it vs. sueing for money. In the end, there will be a settlement and WB will pay top dollar to have it dropped.
The tattoo in the movie is obviously a comical/parody take on Mike Tyson's tattoo, and thus is not subject to copyright rules. If spoofing is illegal, then Hollywood, comics, and all kinds of other sources would be in trouble and not allowed.