50 Cent has launched a legal battle with a jeweler who he claims copied his custom chain necklace and has been using his likeness to sell the pieces.
TMZ reports that the rapper, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson, filed a lawsuit against Maksud Agadjani and his TraxNYC Corp., alleging copyright infringement and violation of his right of publicity.
Maksud has posted content on his social media featuring a knockoff 50 Cent necklace alongside images of the rapper, but Power’s executive producer says the clips may trick customers into thinking he approves of knockoffs.
50 wants Maksud to pay him at least $5 million in damages, in addition to a judge preventing the jeweler from using the rapper’s image.
‘Mister. “Jackson takes the unauthorized use of his name and likeness for commercial purposes seriously,” a rep for the rapper told TMZ.
50 Cent is suing a jeweler who he claims has been using his image to sell knockoffs of his legendary chain necklaces; pictured June 2024
The lawsuit also claims that Maksud “intentionally and knowingly created” replicas of a custom-made necklace for the rapper, according to The wrapper.
‘Defendants, who are in the jewelry business, intentionally and knowingly created imitations of an original necklace designed exclusively for Jackson; used Jackson’s name, likeness, and other intellectual property rights to mislead consumers into believing that Defendants’ reproductions are affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by Jackson; and continue to use Jackson’s name, likeness, and other intellectual property rights for commercial gain,’ the lawsuit obtained by The Wrap reads.
The lawsuit adds that Jackson did not purchase her necklace from TraxNYC and Maksud nor did she allow them to “capitalize on her goodwill and reputation to promote their goods and services.”
The lawsuit claims that Maksud displayed the imitation necklace several times between August and October 2024.
Maksud featured 50 Cent’s image along with the cross necklace in a post he shared on Sunday announcing his replicas.
’50 Cent got this new cross that I like and guess what, I made it. Why not?… 50, thanks for the inspiration. You are a true gentleman. I’m sure you won’t mind… I don’t know where he got 50 for his, but I know where I got mine. About him,” Maksud said while showing a photo of the musician.
50 warned Maksud in the comments section of that video on Tuesday, writing, “This was a bad idea, you’ll regret doing it, I promise.” Maksud replied: ‘@50cent, don’t you have better things to worry about?’
But on Thursday, Trax appeared to respond to the lawsuit when he took to his Instagram Stories and advised the rapper to “forgive” and “forget.”
“I’m 50,” he said. ‘The cross is destined for forgiveness, for redemption, for the forgiveness of sins. Forgive, forget. Let it go, brother.
Maksud included the rapper in several posts showing off his newest products, and most recently shared a video of his new line of cross necklaces that resembled the rapper’s jewelry.
Agadjani appeared to be responding to the lawsuit when he took to his Instagram Stories on Thursday, urging the rapper to “forgive” and “forget.”
50 also acknowledged the lawsuit on Thursday and posted a screenshot of an article about it.
‘Every once in a while someone does something like this. “I don’t know why, but I do know I need it by Monday,” he captioned the post.
Not only is Maksud a jeweler, but viewers may also recognize him from the 2019 film Uncut Gems.
In the film, starring Adam Sandler, Maksud played Yussi.
