AEW and Luchasaurus sued over merchandising rights for mask

[Chris]

AEW and Luchasaurus are facing a lawsuit over merchandising rights to the wrestler's mask design.

Wrestlenomics reports that mask designer CFX sued AEW and Luchasaurus (real name Austin Matelson) in United States District Court Eastern District of Louisiana in December 2022 seeking profits that the two have earned in using their "Viper Silicone Mask" in merchandising, as well as damages and attorney's fees.

The report states that in court documents, CFX said that Luchasaurus was authorized to use the mask as a performer, but that the company retained merchandising rights to the design. A variation of the mask is currently for sale on CFX's website.

CFX also stated that they attempted to sign a licensing deal with Luchasaurus in 2019, and also designed a new mask that AEW bought the rights to in 2021, but emails from Luchasaurus stated that the original design was "too iconic" to change.

CFX also alleges in the suit that Luchasaurus approached a second designer in 2022 to create "a near replica" of their design, but the designer refused, stating "It was clear that there were legal issues that needed to be handled prior to my designing a new mask for Matelson."

AEW, Luchasaurus sued by CFX over mask design - WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results

The lawsuit was filed in December 2022.

www.f4wonline.com

 

[Comrade Khan]

interesting. seems much more a Luchasaurus issue than AEW but I'll be curious if this goes anywhere

 

[Chris]

This could explain why he hasn't been on TV lol

 

[Chris]

interesting. seems much more a Luchasaurus issue than AEW but I'll be curious if this goes anywhere

The AEW issue is more the money they made from merchandising, that seems to be what they care about. The weird stuff like Luchasaurus trying to get an exact replica which would have been shady as fuck probably not actually gonna play a factor since the designer said no to that anyway

 

[Comrade Khan]

The AEW issue is more the money they made from merchandising, that seems to be what they care about. The weird stuff like Luchasaurus trying to get an exact replica which would have been shady as fuck probably not actually gonna play a factor since the designer said no to that anyway

Is AEW selling his mask would be the question I have. If it's shirts with the mask on it I'd imagine that's a flimsy case vs AEW. I def think Luchasaurus looks sketch here tho too. def shady

 

[Chris]

Were they selling actual replica masks? Or was it just the mask being featured bc Luchasaurus was on a Jurassic Express shirt? Bc that would be way more of a gray area for me unless like the mask is the main feature of the shirt, then yeah they probably deserve something

 

[Comrade Khan]

LOL mindmeld!

 

[Chris]

Is AEW selling his mask would be the question I have. If it's shirts with the mask on it I'd imagine that's a flimsy case vs AEW. I def think Luchasaurus looks sketch here tho too. def shady

Yeah I said the same thing, I don't keep up with their merchandise so idk lol I feel like there was one shirt that had a big Luchasaurus mask as the feature, that I could see.

Replica masks for sure tho, that would be crazy but idk of they even sell them

 

[Comrade Khan]

Were they selling actual replica masks? Or was it just the mask being featured bc Luchasaurus was on a Jurassic Express shirt? Bc that would be way more of a gray area for me unless like the mask is the main feature of the shirt, then yeah they probably deserve something

tbh Luchasaurus or AEW should just do the right thing and buy the design. i dont think someone who designs a mask someone wears should get money of their shirts when their shirts sell because of the performer's performance. i dunno if that makes sense lol

edit: so just pay them a one time lump sum

 

[Chris]

Either way I bet this is just settled and the mask designers get some money lol

 

[Chris]

tbh Luchasaurus or AEW should just do the right thing and buy the design. i dont think someone who designs a mask someone wears should get money of their shirts when their shirts sell because of the performer's performance. i dunno if that makes sense lol

The argument could be that the performer wouldn't be as over and sell the merch without the mask tho

 

[Comrade Khan]

Either way I bet this is just settled and the mask designers get some money lol

yeah my eight ball says settled out shortly if theres a case there

 

[Comrade Khan]

The argument could be that the performer wouldn't be as over and sell the merch without the mask tho

yeah thats fair. its dangerously close to the tattoo thing tho so like you said, def some grey there

 

[Chris]

The tattoo artist did win too so that's probably relevant

 

[Comrade Khan]

I guess it might also depend if Luchasaurus shorted the guy and then was being sketch, or is this dude trying to get more money after the fact