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Tattoo Artist Wins Lawsuit Against WWE, 2K Sports & More Over Randy Orton’s Tattoos

September 30, 2022 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
Randy Orton WWE 2K20 Image Credit: 2K Games

The trial over Randy Orton’s tattoos in the WWE 2K franchise has ended in a with for the plaintiff, though not for a major monetary amount. PWInsider reports that the jury in the lawsuit filed by tattoo artist Catherine Alexander against WWE, Take-Two Interactive Software, 2K Games, Inc., 2K Sports, Inc., Visual Concepts Entertainment, Yuke’s Co., Ltd. and Yuke’s LA Inc. decided in Alexander’s favor after three hours and 26 minutes of deliberation. The site also reports that the jury ruled Alexander was entitled to only $3,750 in compensation over the matter.

As has been reported, the lawsuit was filed back in April of 2018 by Alexander who said that her work on Orton were her own original designs that she owned the rights to. She claimed that the defendants infringed on her copyrights and didn’t give them permission to use the designs in WWE-licensed games. The case has been closely watched, as several video games feature athletes with tattoos and recreate those designs in the game, so the win could establish a precedent for other such artists.

PWInsider rpeorts that the jury had to come to agreement on the following points:

* If the defendants had proven the tattoos were fair use and thus able to be used without Alexander’s permission (they disagreed),

* What damages Alexander was entitled to ($3,750), and

* What amount of the video game profits were derived from the usage of the designs (they ruled $0).

It is not clear whether the defendants will appeal the case.

article topics :

Randy Orton, WWE 2k, Jeremy Thomas