*Fox is in a legal battle with a record label claiming that “Empire” infringes upon their name, Empire Distribution, and the network has no right to use it because it tarnishes their brand.
According to TMZ, Fox has just filed a lawsuit asking a judge to declare Empire Distribution’s demand bogus.
Empire Distribution handles distribution and publishing as well, with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Too Short, N.O.R.E. and Sean Paul, according to TMZ. The company claims it’s being hurt because the fictitious label on the show is run by a “homophobic drug dealer prone to murdering his friends.”
Empire Distribution is willing to look the other way if Fox pays them $8 million; $5 million if the show uses Empire Distribution’s artists as regulars.
TMZ reports:
In the new world order, Fox notes that Empire Distribution is relatively obscure, showing up on the 7th page in a Google search. Fox wants the dispute put to bed STAT, before season two kicks off.
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