Jay-Z Sues Red Sox's David Ortiz Over 40/40 Club

By PopEater Staff Posted Apr 16th 2010 06:19AM

Rapper Jay-Z is suing baseball slugger David Ortiz, claiming the Boston Red Sox star named his Dominican nightclub after his chain of 40/40 clubs, which can be found in Manhattan, Las Vegas and Atlantic City. In the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Manhattan Federal Court, Jay-Z accuses Ortiz of naming his Santo Domingo club Forty-Forty in the hopes of trading in on the rap star's fame. The suit seeks over $5 million in damages and for Ortiz to forfeit any use of the 40/40 name.

Jay-Z

"David Ortiz is fully aware of Plaintiff's Manhattan 40/40 club, since he had been a patron there on several occasions before he opened his Infringing Forty/Forty club," the lawsuit states.

The clubs are named after the feat of hitting 40 homers and stealing 40 bases in one season.

A message seeking comment was left Thursday night with SFX Baseball, the agency that represents Ortiz.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=772716&pid=772715&uts=1271415892

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Jay-Z Pics

Rapper Jay-Z performs at the Staples Center on March 26, 2010 in Los Angeles. More photos >>

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

Jay-Z Snapshots

NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Jay-Z watches as the New York Yankees play against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the Yankees home opener at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jay-Z

Jay-Z Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM JAY-Z has dinner at Bar Pitti. On his exit Jay tells the candy pusher "nah I don't eat chocolate". EXCLUSIVE April 12, 2010 Job: 100413Z3 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Jay-Z Snapshots

© BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Beyonce Knowles leaves Nello's restaurant with her husband Jay-Z wearing some very short shorts. NON-EXCLUSIVE March 31, 2010 Job: 100404M1 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Jay-Z Snapshots

Tags: Jay-Z

Comments

(26)

Friday 16 April

By TF

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Yeah he (Jay Z ) is just bringing this on beacause of the rival with the 2 teams and he is a Skankee's Fan and we know Redsox fans despise the Skankees, I know I do...I guess this is his only way to get some moneys at the time. Oh Well. GO RED-SOX

By Paddles

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

My thoughts exactly.

By SR

Are you serious? This is the only way JayZ can get money? What David Ortiz is doing is illegal.

By Gina

I'm with you TF GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!

By Freyja Vanir

Vote down Vote up Report this

Jay-Z doesn't have a leg to stand on with this law suit. What a greedy child.

By Tina

Jay-Z is a has-been living off beyonce. Get lost already.

By larry

living off beyonce are you kiddn?he a top noch "business" man

By mkoolkitti

@ tina
I dont agree with what Jay-z is doing.But he is NOT living off Beyonce.He brings homes almost 2x as much money as Beyonce.

By KH

How much more money does a millionaire actually need? 5 million dollars in lawsuit that will prolly cost more than that just to get ortiz to show is not even worth it. I'm sorry you're a yankee fan and haven't been in the tabloids recently enough so you have to bring your own drama to the plate.

This has nothing to do with baseball. Have you ever heard of trademark infringement? JayZ is suing b/c of principals. You can't steal something for profit and get away with it. No matter who you are.

By joshua

So should MLB turn around and sue Jay-Z for stealing the 40/40 from them??

By NYankees27

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

CHAMPION fans sure do despise Bad Sox fans !!!
eeeeewwwwwww i smell Red Sox fans around here !!! HHHAAAAAAAAAAAA

By liz

I am a Yankees fan 100% yet I still think that what Jay-Z is doing is really stupid. What does he need the money for? He just wants those abnormally huge ugly lips in the media since no one really wants to see his face anyway!!!

By maxlayback

What?

By trmnatr2

Im neither a yankees nor redsox fan but I see Jay Z's point.Ortiz is stealing the name,he's been in the club.Does he deserve 5 mill,no way,just pay for Jay Z legal costs.

By FreakyD

Didn't Jay-sleeZe STEAL the name first? If anything, MLB should "Claim the Name of Fame". What does J-Z have to do with 40/40?

By p

forty forty is NOT the same as 40 40
JayZ ought to go back to the streets, and shut up.

By the way ... YANKEE FAN HERE.....
Don't care that he's a Yankee fan > JAYZ has no talent.

By Liss

Good luck with that suit. International copyright laws are virtually non-existent, and I'm sure top lawyers were consulted before the name was put over the door.

By Heywood Jablowme

living off beyonce are you kiddn?he a top noch "business" man

Exactly, businessman. Astute and smart at that, but not a lick of musical talent at all, none. English language challanged also, not the least bit articulate, cant sing or play music so its really hard to imagine that he made so much money without a hint of talent. That is impressive.

Page 1 of 2