Photo by Jasmine McCormick

NYHC legends Sick Of It All File Lawsuit Against Supreme and Mobb Deep for Copyright Infringement

- By Ramon Gonzales

The band's iconic dragon logo is the imagery in question - iconography that has been connected to the hardcore collective since the late 80's.

Despite a loose kinship that even once included a collaboration track with both Sick of It All and Mobb Deep reimagining the hip hop duo's classic, "Survival of the Fittest" for the cult favorite 2000 compilation album, Loud Rocks - it would seem as though the love has been lost. 

The NYHC institution has filed a lawsuit against Streetwear authority, Supreme, as well as championed New York hip hop duo, Mobb Deep. Per court documents shared online, Bush Baby Zamagate, Inc. - the owner of the intellectual property in question, has filed suit against members Havoc (Kejuan Muchita), the estate the late Prodigy (Albert Johnson) and Supreme for "improper and illegal use of a nearly identical logo mark to Plaintiff’s inherently distinctive, incontestable and famous logo.”

What makes this instance particularly egregious is that this has come up at least twice prior, as Mobb Deep has been using imagery nearly identical to Sick Of It All's famed dragon since the late 90's. While the hardcore band has asked the duo to stop usage of the dragon, there's been no such luck. 

The conflict seemingly came to a head this year when streetwear pillars Supreme launched a Mobb Deep collaboration capsule earlier this summer - of which include use of the same dragon image synonymous with Sick of It All. 

The company that owns the IP has filed for compensatory damages and seeking the immediate suspension of the use of the imagery. 

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