RCA Sued Over Art In Elle Varner/J.Cole Video

RCA Records has been hit with a lawsuit over artwork used in the video to Elle Varner and J.Cole’s single “I Only Wanna Give It To You.”
Artist Maya Hayuk filed the lawsuit in United States District Court for Massachusetts on Friday (February 24).
According to the lawsuit, Hayuk’s painting titled “Sunshine,” was used in Elle Varner’s video without permission.
Maya Hayuk is a world renowned, Brooklyn-based visual artist, who has created paintings, murals and other works of art, that have been displayed around the country.
According to the complaint, Hayuk created the “Sunshine” piece for the group Rye Rye, which at one point featured M.I.A.
“In or around October 2011, RCA & Sony produced or otherwise commissioned the Video,” the lawsuit reads. “This Video includes numerous scenes that incorporate videographic reproductions of Hayuk’s Sunshine. Indeed, Hayuk’s original artwork is featured prominently in the Video and adds greatly to its mise-en-scéne. Hayuk did not authorize the use of Sunshine in the Video. Neither RCA nor Sony approached Hayuk seeking such authorization.”
Hayuk claims RCA and Sony are illegally profiting off her work and she’s suing for damages.
She is seeking a preliminary order enjoining RCA and Sony from all further reproduction of the art, the impoundment amd destruction of all the copies of the video, as well as an injunction preventing the video from being played.