Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye West, Pharrell and Rihanna Are Suing a French Clothing Company

Sometimes major corporations will ward off smaller competitors or disgruntled employees with the sheer volume of paperwork and billing hours needed to navigate our labyrinthine legal system. But when the plaintiffs are some of the wealthiest and most influential artists in the world, the balance of power shifts more than enough. According to Refinery 29, Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye West, Pharrell and Rihanna are suing ElevenParis, a French clothing company that has been selling "a mix of T-shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, hats, phone cases and backpacks" featuring likenesses, quotes or references to the stars. The suit claims that the entertainers had previously been in contact with the designer: “Even after receiving warning to cease selling the infringing goods, defendants continue to sell unauthorized products and to trade upon the goodwill associated with the plaintiffs, all for defendants' profits."

The last of 58 claims enumerated in the lawsuit is solely Beyonce's; she contests that ElevenParis violated the terms of an unspecified deal she had struck with the company this January. Recently, plaintiffs' family members--including Solange Knowles and Kylie Jenner--have been spotted wearing the line, furthering the belief that somewhere along the line, an endorsement or collaboration project went awry. The offending items have since been taken off of the ElevenParis website, but materials referencing the late Notorious B.I.G. are still available. In addition to those in the music world, the company sells items that mention Kate Moss--but as Refinery 29 notes, the famous model did some work for the brand just last year.