Think It's A Game Entertainment, LLC ("TIG"), an Atlanta-based production company, Fly Merchandise Enterprises, LLC ("Fly"), and Girvan Henry ("Henry"), have left Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan feeling "some type of way."

Dequantes Lamar, better known by his stage name "Rich Homie Quan" ("Quan"), filed suit in the Northern District of Georgia against TIG, Fly, and Henry, alleging he incurred over $2,000,000 in damages based on a number of causes of action, including breach of contract, trademark infringement, and unfair competition.

Quan has achieved notoriety in recent years for his recording singles, "Type of Way" (certified Gold by the RIAA according to the complaint) and "Flex," among others.  The complaint alleges that Quan and TIG signed a "memorandum purporting to be a recording agreement," which called for Quan to receive a $19,200 advance and 50% of all profits from sales of Quan's records.  Quan alleges that the advance and the 50% split have not been paid.  According to the complaint, Quan "did not have the benefit of legal representation at the time he entered into the TIG Memorandum, nor was he advised to seek counsel."  Further, the complaint states that without Quan's consent Defendants entered into separate agreements with other record labels, including Def Jam.  Under those separate agreements, the Defendants were paid several hundred thousand dollars as an advance and further royalties from sales of Quan's music, which the complaint alleges were never passed on to Quan.

According to the complaint, Henry and Fly also filed and obtained trademark registrations for "RICH HOMIE QUAN" and a corresponding logo, shown below, which issued as U.S. Reg. No. 4,483,756 and U.S. Reg. No. 4,746,133, respectively.  Quan alleges that these applications were filed without his consent or knowledge, and that he is not listed as a "creator, author, or owner" of the marks, despite his use of the "Rich Homie Quan" stage name in connection with his career in entertainment.  The complaint seeks a finding that the Defendants committed fraud on the PTO, and asks the Court to cancel the registrations or, in the alternative, to transfer ownership of the marks to him.  The complaint alleges that Defendants' conduct also amounts to unfair competition under the Lanham Act, and seeks redress for damages incurred in connection with Defendants' use of the marks.
 

"Rich Homie Quan Logo" - U.S. Reg. No. 4,746,133

The complaint also seeks to have the "memorandum" declared unenforceable for lacking "material terms" and that the agreement be rescinded, or in the alternative, for breach of contract.  The complaint further contains counts for breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, conversion, and violation of the Georgia Deceptive Trade Practices Act (O.C.G.A. 10-1-370).  Quan seeks equitable title to assets purchased with "funds due Artist" relating to the agreement, recovery of damages, and attorneys' fees and costs.

The case is Lamar v. Think It's A Game Entertainment, LLC et al., Case No. 1:15-cv-2775-TCB, filed August 5, 2015 in the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, and is assigned to Judge Timothy Batten.