The famous chef Nusr-et Gökçe, better known as “Salt Bae”, has been christened with a $ 5 million copyright infringement lawsuit by a Brooklyn artist, who alleges that the social media star has used his artwork around the world without permission.
William Hicks says he and his artist Josphe Iurato were hired by Gökçe in September 2017 to make a mural of the Turkish restaurateur “with his salt position,” according to a federal demand from Manhattan on Monday.
The first work was shown at Gökçe’s Miami fillet shop and later custom-made mural murals also went up to its restaurants in Doha, Dubai and New York, according to court papers.
At the time, only Hicks learned in early 2020 that Gökçe and his companies used the same image around the world in shop windows, digital signs, menus, wipes, takeaway bags and on the label of their condiment line. , all without the artist’s permission the court documents allege.
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“Defendants were involved in a widespread and unauthorized distribution and use of the original works at, among other places, Nusr-et butcher shops and Saltbae Burger restaurants in New York, Dubai and Istanbul,” the lawsuit alleges.
“The defendants also unilaterally decided that, instead, they would illegally adapt, create and distribute unauthorized derivative versions of the original works … to be shown at the Nusr-et butcher’s locations in at least Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Etiler, Mykonos and Bodrum Yalikavak Marina “. claim court documents.
Hicks allegedly sent a letter of cessation and abandonment asking them to stop using the original works of art in April 2020. However, Gökçe and the companies “doubled their already widespread violation, expanding their intentional use of the infringing materials at locations in Doha, D Maris Bay (Turkey), Boston, Dallas and several additional locations in Istanbul, ”the lawsuit states.
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Private school teacher Paul Rossi writes that we are doing a …
Gökçe first achieved world fame in 2017 when images of him splashing salt on a steak went viral on Instagram. He opened the New York Nusr-et advanced site in early 2018.
Gökçe could not be reached immediately for comment.