On Monday, May 12th, a federal appeals court reinstated the case of Rosa Parks versus OutKast. The suit claimed OutKast profited from her name by appropriating it for the title of “Rosa Parks” and falsely suggesting the song was about her or endorsed by her.
OutKast originally won the suit as they were protected by their First Amendment Rights. Big Boi and Andre must demonstrate to the court why they decided to name their song after Rosa when the lyrics barely mention her. “The fact that Defendants cry ‘artist’ and ‘symbol’ as reasons for appropriating Rosa Parks’ name for a song title does not absolve them from potential liability for, in the words of Shakespeare, filching Rosa Parks’ good name,” the judges said in their ruling.
It should be noted that OutKast said in an interview some time ago (in XXL if I recall) that Rosa Parks herself has nothing to do with this suit, and it is the actions of her family.
