Beyonce’s ‘Dangerously In Love’ Album Sales Top Five Million: Beyonce Settles With Eleven Paris [Video]
Congratulations are in order to Beyonce, whose debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, surpassed the five million mark in albums sales. The album, which was released in 2003, had a final push in sales the week ending December 24, pushing Dangerously in Love past the five million mark, reports the Hollywood Reporter.
After Destiny’s Child released their final album Survivor in 2001, the girls decided to take a break to pursue solo efforts. In 2003, Beyonce released Dangerously In Love, which sold 317,000 copies in its first week the United States, hitting the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Every one of Beyonce’s albums has sold at least one million copies and has reached the number one slot on the Billboard 200. In total, Beyonce has sold over 16 million albums in the United States.
#2015faves RT @TrapGawdd: JayZ is the reason why Beyoncé looks at Lebron the way she does pic.twitter.com/XqMzFO488r
— Chillin in my Bacta (@DarthAmin) January 1, 2016
Beyonce has also reportedly reached a settlement with fashion retailer Eleven Paris over trademark infringement. The company had released merchandise bearing the likeness of Beyonce but failed to secure her blessing on the clothing. Eleven Paris also released items that bore the likeness of Jay Z, Kanye West, Pharrell, and Rihanna.
Beyonce and her lawyers had filed a lawsuit against the French company for trademark infringement in a New York federal courthouse, claiming that the company unlawfully used the stars’ images, names, lyrics, and other intellectual property on their products. In addition to the clothing that features Beyonce, Eleven Paris also offered phone cases and backpacks that say “Hova,” “RiRi,” and “Kanye is My Homie.”
A massive 96-page lawsuit was filed in New York City on October 6 and cited 58 alleged violations. Beyonce was suing for damages, and the lawsuit asked the brand stop using Beyonce on its apparel.
Originally, Beyonce agreed to work with Eleven Paris, but after the company allegedly “breached the terms and conditions of the agreement,” Beyonce rescinded her support. The fashion retailer released the clothing anyway, and in the lawsuit, Beyonce claimed in a Manhattan federal court that she suffered damage to her reputation and the “goodwill of their respective trademarks,” reports People.
One shirt featured a photo of Beyonce wearing a dark magenta ski mask. It also included some Beyonce lyrics from her single “Diva” on the back of the item, such as “[a] Diva Is A Female Version Of A Hustler,” the lawsuit claimed.
The lawsuit also asserted that the clothing created “consumer confusion,” and was an attempt to capitalize on the millions that Beyonce, Jay Z, Pharrell, Kanye West, and Rihanna invested in their brands. Lawyers for Beyonce argued that the “[d]efendants have willfully traded upon the goodwill and notoriety of plaintiffs, arguably some of the most famous musical artists and entrepreneurs in the world,” the lawsuit said.
To prove that the clothing damaged her personal brand, Beyonce had to establish exactly what her reputation was, and Beyonce was required to list out every accomplishment she’s achieved, including all of her awards and album sales.
At this time, Beyonce has dismissed her lawsuit after she was able to come to an out-of-court agreement with Eleven Paris. Although the terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, according to the New York Daily News, “[t]he case has been amicably resolved pursuant to a confidential settlement,” Brad Rose at Pryor Cashman revealed.
As part of the settlement, the products featuring the likenesses of Beyonce, Jay Z, Pharrell, Kanye West, and Rihanna have been removed from the Eleven Paris store and online retail site, although items with images of Kate Moss and Karl Lagerfeld still remain. Although Eleven Paris reportedly released clothing without the approval of Moss or Lagerfeld, neither participated in the lawsuit.
What do you think? Was Beyonce right to settle with Eleven Paris? Leave your comment below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahQ34egSLmg
[Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images]
