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A former professional wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page is to sue Jay-Z, saying that the rapper has stolen a hand gesture that he first used.
The gesture - putting both hands forward and using thumbs and fingers to make a diamond shape - features on the cover of Jay-Z's The Dynasty Roc La Familia album (pictured). Page claims he copyrighted the gesture back in 1996. He is looking to stop the rapper using it in the future, and to gain compensation for the alleged violation.
Page's lawyer, George Gallegos, said:
"People
would come up to him and ask him if he was letting Jay-Z use it or if he had
licensed it to him. Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records use this symbol to promote
themselves, to promote their artists, to promote their music and to promote
their fanbase. People have come to recognise [Page by this symbol], and the
way that it's being used by Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella is taking value away from
it and creating confusion upon the public."
Jay-Z is yet to comment.
