Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesKendrick Lamar & SZA’s Black Panther soundtrack collabo “All the Stars” just hit the top 10 on the Billboard chart, but a lawsuit over the song’s video is spoiling the moment.
The New York Times reports that artist Lina Iris Viktor is alleging that video violates the copyrights of the gold patterned artworks she created as part of a series of paintings she did called Constellations. According to the Times, a lawyer for Viktor sent a letter about the allegation to Anthony Tiffith, head of Kendrick and SZA’s label, Top Dawg Entertainment.
Apparently, the creators of Black Panther had asked Viktor for permission to use the artwork twice, but she said no both times. The Times has posted an image from the video next to an image of Viktor’s work Constellation I and the two appear similar.
Speaking to the Times, Viktor said, “Why would they do this? It’s an ethical issue, because what the whole film purports is that it’s about black empowerment, African excellence — that’s the whole concept of the story. And at the same time they’re stealing from African artists.”
The attorney’s letter states that Viktor wants “at a minimum…a public apology for the unauthorized use and a license fee.”
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