Video game that includes LeBron James, Kobe Bryant tattoos sparks suit

Take-Two Interactive software package INC has been hit with a infringement suit over its depiction of tattoos happiness to National Basketball Association stars LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in an exceedingly fashionable computer game.

In a criticism filed on weekday in Manhattan court, Solid Oak Sketches LLC same Take-Two ought to pay damages for incorporating eight tattoo styles, that the litigant had accredited from numerous artists, into its NBA 2K16 game.

While "the issue of tattoo copyrightability has however to be determined upon in court owing to varied settlements," the tattoo artists' works square measure the sort of "pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works" that merit legal protection, Solid Oak same.

Among the works in question square measure the words "Hold My Own" on James' left bicep, a crown with butterflies on Bryant's right bicep, and tattoos on the bodies of NBA players Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan and Kenyon Martin, in step with court papers.

Take-Two has same it sold  over four million copies of NBA 2K16 within the initial week when its unleash last Sept. 29.

A spokesperson, Alan Lewis, same the New York-based company doesn't discuss legal matters.

The suit seeks a halt to any infringements, and damages as high as $150,000 per infringement.

It follows what Solid Oak same was associate unsuccessful effort to barter a licensing arrangement with Take-Two.

In a July twenty eight letter filed with the court, lawyers for the tattoo artists had offered Take-Two a perpetual license for the eight tattoos in question, in exchange for a $1.14 million fee.

Darren Heitner, a attorney for Solid Oak, declined to elaborate on the criticism.