A magazine writer has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the creators of the new Tupac Shakur biopic, saying that portions of the film are based on his articles about the late rapper.
Kevin Powell says in the suit that “All Eyez On Me” borrows from articles he wrote and interviews he did with Shakur in the 1990s for Vibe magazine.
Powell is now looking for a significant portion of the $31 million that the show has made at the box office so far, as well as for the film to be removed from theatres.
The 16-page document states there were “stories with fiction characters and re-worked narratives that are unique to the Original Work” (a.k.a. Powell’s interviews) “that appear in the Infringing Work” (a.k.a. All Eyez on Me).On Friday, Powell released a statement via Facebook addressing the film and his lawsuit.
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“After a great deal of thought and consultation with many, including my attorneys,” Powell began, “I have filed a federal lawsuit against the producers and writers of All Eyez on Me, the new Tupac Shakur biopic, for copyright infringement. After viewing the movie twice in the past few days, it is clear that my exclusive Vibe cover stories on Tupac Shakur (when he was alive), were lifted, without proper credit or compensation of any kind to me, and used in All Eyez on Me. As the owner of the copyright to these articles, All Eyez on Me infringed on my rights by using content and narrative that was exclusive to my writings. I am seeking justice and a resolution in this matter that is fully fair to me and all the work I’ve done throughout the years, as an author and protector of the Tupac Shakur narrative.”
