Jay-Z is being sued by a former pro-wrestler over allegations he has ruthlessly stolen a hand gesture. No, really. Diamond Dallas Page says he first used the hand gesture - basically putting both hands forward and touching your thumbs and index finger to create a diamond shape - back in 1996, and that he then had it copyrighted. Jay-Z has subsequently used the gesture, in particular on the cover of 2002 album 'The Dynasty Roc La Familia', which, the wrestler claims, is a violation of his copyright. He is suing in a bid to stop Jay-Z from making the hand gesture in the future, and to secure compensation for the violation he has suffered.
According to MTV, Page's lawyer George Gallegos, who says the wrestler is pursuing the legal action to "save his livelihood", told reporters: "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."
Quite which members of the public are getting confused between a white wrestler and a black rapper because they sometimes make the same hand gesture isn't clear. Jay-Z and his people are yet to comment on the law suit.