Warner Bros. May Alter 'Hangover 2' Tattoo for DVD

By Kelly Fisher Posted Jun 10th 2011 08:33AM

Who knew a tattoo could cause so much drama? The face ink Ed Helm's character gets in 'The Hangover 2' may get a makeover when the film is released on DVD -- all thanks to a lawsuit that almost stopped the release of the movie altogether.

In the film, Helm's character wakes up to find he has a facial tattoo identical to the one sported by Mike Tyson. However, Tyson's tattoo artist, S. Victor Whitmill wasn't too thrilled to see his work on the big screen. Whitmill sued Warner Bros. for copyright infringement in April and his attempt to delay the film's release failed.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Warner Bros. filed court papers earlier this week stating it will digitally alter the tattoo design on Helm's face in an attempt to prevent the expedited trial Whitmill has requested.

"If the parties are unable to resolve their dispute, Warner Bros. does not intend to make any use of the allegedly infringing tattoo after the film ends its run in the theaters because Warner Bros. will digitally alter the film to substitute a different tattoo on Ed Helms' face. As a result, there is no reason for the highly accelerated trial Plaintiff has asked this Court to hold on Plaintiff's request for a permanent injunction," lawyers for Warner Bros. said in the filing.

The two sides will try to talk at a mediation hearing next week, and a court date is slated for Feb. 21, 2012.

Check out the trailer 'The Hangover 2' below.

Tags: ed helms, Hangover 2

Comments

(19)

Wednesday 22 June

By MeLu

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So the guy is claiming that a generic tribal tattoo as his copyright work? LMAO! Sorry but that guy is just a greed jerk.

Friday 10 June

By Denizio

C'mon man. It's an ugly tattoo anyway. Who would want it?

By cgw

it's a Maori tattoo...did Tyson get permission from the tribe to use it? Did Warner Bros?

Sunday 12 June

By Kelly

Yeah...hope the Maori win the suit and they have to alter Tyson's face! LOL!

By mem

The artist should be proud that so many people will see his work. Hopefully it will not inspire others to get one:)

By Rebecca

I think you meant to say that he wasn't thrilled to see his work on the big screen if he wasn't getting paid out the arse for it. Also, that Warner Bros. will change the tattoo for the DVD in case he wins the lawsuit, that way he cannot get a part of the DVD sales!!

Saturday 11 June

By Karine

Simply Pathetic what's considered to make the news these days... The IQ of Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

By Tee

The 2012 court date will be after the DVD release!

By LOLz

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did anyone see when he looked in the mirror? the tattoo switched sides

By Lisa

Umm....do you know how a mirror works? It didn't switch sides. Every reflection in the mirror is opposite. Duh.

By pnut166

Tribal tattoos are NOT unique. Mike Tyson was just uniquely moronic to have one put on his face. The "artist" has no case whatsoever. WB should tell the guy to bring it.

By Justme

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I totally agree! Where did the artist find the design in the first place? I suppose that Tyson will be on the look out to sue anyone who has a piece of an ear in their mouth!

By scrdnc

The entire point of him getting the tattoo was to mimic Tyson's! That's the humor in it. Changing the tattoo digitally is dumb and this guy needs to get over it.

By Joey

WOW ! This is really important news. Thanks for keeping up to date. After knowing this, Global Warming, World Peace, the three or four wars we have going on, China entering Africa as NOrth American was 200+ years ago , disease of the uncurable, etc etc all seem SO unimportant.

By Jeanette

Why on earth would he even claim credit for making an already unattractive man look even more ridiculous with a facial tattoo?

By Jules

What a greedy MOFO! Our society has gotten so "sue-happy".. makes me want to puke.

By skf2011

The whole point of the tattoo was to bring Mike Tyson back into the sequel! My gosh, probably some lowlife tattoo artist asking for his fifteen minutes out of the parlor.

By edneck12524

why didn't he sue after the first movie with mike tyson in it?i'm a little confused by that....if mel gibson was in the movie he would be getting sued for doing the tattoo wouldn't he?i guess he dodged a bullet there.

By Bill

Do your research on the tatoo artist; he is highly respected; has done a lot of celebs and sports figures.

Tyson signed all of the legal paper work when he got his; the artist has the tatoo copywrited.

He has a legal right to protect his copywirted material.

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