Drake Sued for Copyright Infringement

It seems Drake might have missed a crucial lesson: copyright law. The 39-year-old rapper is now facing a new lawsuit from Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti, who accuses Drake of “brazen and extensive” copyright infringement. The legal battle centers around imagery used in Drake’s music video for “What Did I Miss?”

The Core of the Copyright Dispute

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, specifically points to a scene in the music video where Drake is pictured standing near an arrangement of guns on the ground. Galimberti claims this setup is an “unauthorized copy” of a photograph from his acclaimed portrait series, “THE AMERIGUNS,” which features American gun owners posing with their firearms.

Galimberti’s attorneys argue that the alleged infringement is not only a violation of federal law but also an affront to the photographer’s livelihood and legacy. They state that Drake’s team “lifted” Galimberti’s “iconic and highly distinctive photographic style” to set the scene for the music video, causing significant harm.

A Troubling Association

Adding another layer to this legal drama, the lawsuit notes that Galimberti is also known for shooting the controversial 2022 Balenciaga campaign. While he was later publicly vindicated in a defamation lawsuit related to false accusations stemming from that campaign, the suit argues that Drake’s video intentionally evokes this controversy.

The filing draws a connection to Drake’s high-profile feud with Kendrick Lamar, who labeled Drake a “certified pedophile” on the track “Not Like Us.” Galimberti’s legal team suggests, on information and belief, that Drake may have sought to imply he, like the plaintiff, would be “publicly exonerated.” The complaint asserts that viewers immediately recognized the imagery from “THE AMERIGUNS,” creating a “forced and unauthorized association” that harms Galimberti’s reputation, especially given the false allegations surrounding the Balenciaga ad.

• Allegation of unauthorized use of a photograph from “THE AMERIGUNS” series.
• Claim of “brazen and extensive” copyright infringement.
• Argument that the music video creates a harmful association with past controversies.
• Seeking damages for the alleged violation of copyright.

Gabriele Galimberti, a National Geographic photographer, is seeking damages for the alleged harm to his work and reputation. This lawsuit raises important questions about artistic integrity and the legal boundaries of inspiration versus infringement in the music industry.