Rapper Curtis “50 Cent”Jackson has initiated legal proceedings against jeweler Maksud Agadjani, known for his role in Uncut Gems, seeking $5 million for infringement of trademark rights. The lawsuit follows Agadjani’s actions through his jewelry brand, TraxNYC Corp., where he posted a video showcasing counterfeit replicas of a custom-made diamond-encrusted cross pendant originally created for 50 Cent.
As detailed in court filings acquired by The Wrap on October 10, Jackson alleges that Agadjani’s videos infringe upon his “right of publicity”and mislead potential customers into thinking he has a connection with the jewelry line. The legal document states:
“The defendants, operating within the jewelry sector, intentionally and knowingly produced replicas of an original necklace designed solely for Jackson; utilized Jackson’s name, image, and other intellectual properties to mislead the public into believing their creations are associated with, supported by, or endorsed by Jackson; and persist in using Jackson’s name, image, and other intellectual properties for unauthorized commercial advantages.”
In response to the lawsuit, Agadjani expressed his regret on social media, suggesting that the cross symbolized forgiveness and urging 50 Cent to “forgive, forget and move on.”
50 Cent countered by sharing Agadjani’s video on his Instagram, stating that the jeweler attempted to “play”him and hinted at his determination to continue pursuing the matter.
“Let me consider it… Nah, you tried to play with me! You know the vibes by Monday,”50 Cent commented.
50 Cent warns Maksud Agadjani against leveraging his name for marketing
The court documents reveal that Agadjani actively advertised his imitation cross pendants multiple times from August to October of this year. In August, he uploaded a TikTok showcasing the pendant, which bore a resemblance to the rapper’s piece, claiming he had “jocked”50’s style.
On October 7, he released an Instagram video of his faux cross pendants with a caption that referenced 50 Cent:
“@50cent nice cross you got there. Visit TRAXNYC.com or call 212 TRAXNYC for personal service.”
Previously, 50 Cent had cautioned Agadjani to abstain from using his name for promoting his jewelry line. The lawsuit highlights that Jackson directly warned Agadjani on Instagram, predicting he would come to regret his behavior, to which Agadjani nonchalantly responded:
“@50cent, hey, don’t you have more important things to worry about?”
50 Cent is pursuing $5 million in damages along with an injunction preventing Maksud Agadjani and his business from “using, duplicating or mimicking”the rapper’s name and jewelry designs. The rapper asserts he has never purchased jewelry from Agadjani and did not authorize the jeweler to exploit his likeness or reputation for marketing purposes.
“Jackson never acquired his necklace from the defendants and has never permitted them to exploit his brand and reputation to market their goods and services,”the court document emphasizes.
The lawsuit aims to safeguard the integrity of the rapper’s name and image, which he has dedicated “decades to creating, preserving, and enforcing.”
In related news, 50 Cent recently revealed the substantial legal costs he has incurred over the years, stating on the September 1 episode of Million Dollaz Worth of Game that he has spent upwards of $24 million in legal fees throughout his career. He noted that he often sends legal representation to address any issues, which serves to annoy those involved.
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