Take-Two Prevails in Copyright Lawsuit Over LeBron James' Tattoos

A federal jury ruled that Take-Two Interactive's license to use LeBron James' likeness includes his tattoos, dismissing claims by tattoo artist Jimmy Hayden.

Take-Two Interactive successfully defended against copyright infringement claims by tattoo artist Jimmy Hayden regarding LeBron James' tattoos in NBA 2K games.
The jury found that the licensing agreement with the NBA implicitly covered the rights to depict James' tattoos, negating Hayden's claims.
This legal victory is significant for the entertainment industry, reinforcing the rights of developers to include detailed player likenesses in their games.
Despite this win, Take-Two has faced mixed outcomes in similar cases, including a 2022 ruling where they were ordered to pay damages for copyright infringement.
Take-Two recently announced layoffs and the cancellation of several projects, indicating broader company challenges.