• by Ray Schultz , February 19, 2023

Condé Nast has won an undisclosed financial settlement in a suit charging that music stars Drake and 21 Savage violated Vogue’s trademark last year in a promotion for their album “Her Loss,” according to published reports. 

The Vogue publisher asked for $4 million, according to the complaint on file with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

The settlement is not yet in the case file for the lawsuit, but would not necessarily include the sum. 

The victory will “bolster our ongoing creative output, including Vogue editorial,” Will Bowes, general counsel for Condé Nast, said in a memo staff, the reports state. 

Bowes continued, “As a creative company, we of course understand our brands may from time to time be referenced in other creative works. In this instance, however, it was clear to us that Drake and 21 Savage leveraged Vogue’sreputation for their own commercial purposes and, in the process, confused audiences who trust Vogue as the authoritative voice on fashion and culture.” 

The album promotion falsely stated the two artists will be featured on the cover of Vogue, and that a counterfeit issue of Vogue was created and distributed in large cities, the lawsuit alleged.  

In addition, the false claims were circulated in social media, and included this statement: “Me and my brother on newsstands tomorrow!! Thanks @voguemagazine and Anna Wintour for the love and support on this historic moment. Her Loss Nov 4th,” the complaint alleged.  

However, “Vogue magazine and its Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour have had no involvement in Her Loss or its promotion, and have not endorsed it in any way,” it continued.  

In November, the artists reportedly agreed to a preliminary injunction requiring them to remove the fake Vogue covers.