Reformed drug trafficker ‘Freeway” Rick Ross has refiled his trademark infringement lawsuit against rapper Rick Ross in California.
Last November, federal courts threw out ‘Freeway” Ross’ claims that the Miami emcee unlawfully infringed on his namesake and image with his drug kinpin persona. The courts ruled that the former drug dealer could not claim a trademark on illegal activity.
“Freeway” Ross has obtained new legal counsel through Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, and believes his case still holds merit under California state laws.
“We always knew our case was stronger in the state than it was in the feds,” “Freeway” Ross told BET.com. “California state law really protects people with their names and their likenesses. So we knew that was stronger inside California than it was in the feds, but we wanted to go the big route first then work our way down.”
The case will be heard on May 2. At press time, rapper Rick Ross could not be reached for comment.
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