He added: «I had a motorcycle accident and the doctors discovered it. I was doing my sit-ups, 2,500 a day with my 20lb weight, and one day I couldn’t move any more. I asked the doctor what was wrong – and he said: ‘Believe it or not your back is broken slightly.’»
This tattoo includes Ashe’s name and a tennis racket. It’s a tribute to Ashe’s contributions to sports and his advocacy for social justice, demonstrating Tyson’s appreciation for those who use their fame for positive change.
Nevertheless, the whole thing sparked a bigger debate about who owns the rights to tattoos when they appear in movies and media. It was a big deal because it could set a precedent for how studios handle copyrighted tattoos in the future. All said and done, it was a tense legal showdown that made everyone think twice about putting tattoos in movies without checking with the original artists first.
The legal action renewed claims of cultural appropriation but also saw some Māori tā moko artists defend Whitmill. Legal scholars have highlighted how the case juxtaposes Māori and Anglo-American attitudes on ownership of images. Despite never making it to trial, the case has been widely discussed in the context of the copyrightability of tattoos, a matter which has never been fully resolved in the United States.
And indeed, Whitmill’s lawsuit has been criticized for attempting to take credit for designing a tattoo pattern that strongly resembles the unique facial tattoos of the Maori, an indigenous people residing in New Zealand.
On December 21, 2023, it was announced that Paul would be fighting on March 2, 2024, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On January 30, 2024, Paul’s opponent was announced to be American professional boxer Ryan Bourland (17–2). Paul defeated Bourland by technical knockout in the first round.
If the activities complained of in Hangover II are copyright violations, then the appearance of the tattoo in the first Hangover movie must also have been a violation. The tattoo artist could hardly object to Mike Tyson appearing in a film, and by virtue of the tattoo appearing on Tyson’s face, well, the tattoo is going to appear as well. At this point, there could be a viable estoppel defense to the assertion of the claim now, years after the first Hangover movie.
Copyright and trademark law can be hard to understand intuitively — for example, the idea that you can «own» a photograph or a letter, but not own the right to reproduce its content. The example of a tattoo, where «ownership» means having it become part of your body, actually does little to clear up the matter.
He added: «I had a motorcycle accident and the doctors discovered it. I was doing my sit-ups, 2,500 a day with my 20lb weight, and one day I couldn’t move any more. I asked the doctor what division is 175 in boxing was wrong – and he said: ‘Believe it or not your back is broken slightly.’»
However, boxers must ensure that any tattoos do not contain offensive symbols or language, as this could potentially lead to disciplinary actions by boxing organisations or commissions overseeing the matches.
The Missouri-based artist, S. Victor Whitmill, created and copyrighted the design called «Tribal Tattoo» back in 2003 when he applied it to the left side of the boxer’s face. At the time, Tyson signed a release waiving all rights to the design and holding Whitmill as the «sole creator, author, and owner of all rights, including copyright, in the Original Tattoo, which is original and fixed in a tangible medium of expression.» Well, it is a permanent inking, so we suppose «fixed» is right.
Warner Bros. argued that their use of the tattoo fell within the bounds of the fair use doctrine, which permits limited use of copyrighted material without explicit permission. Warner Bros. argued that the tattoo on Helm’s face in The Hangover II was used to parody Tyson, who makes a personal appearance in the film.
He was chosen as the 36-year-old Tyson’s comeback opponent after his loss to heavyweight boxing’s last undisputed champion, Lennox Lewis, because Etienne had also suffered 10 knockdowns. The thinking being that he wouldn’t be able to cope with the former undisputed heavyweight champion’s destructive power – which proved true with a spectacular, if controversial, ending to the fight.
Tyson retired from professional boxing in 2005 due to a combination of physical decline, mental and emotional challenges, and financial troubles. After a series of losses that highlighted his decreasing ability to compete at a top level, Tyson acknowledged that he no longer had the heart to fight. His physical capabilities had diminished with age, and he struggled with motivation and focus, which were compounded by significant financial difficulties. These factors led him to conclude his boxing career after a defeat to Kevin McBride.
Well, many things could go south and escalate quickly when Jake Paul and Mike Tyson walk into the squared circle on July 20. But we will stick to the three possibilities. Ever since the news broke of the two exchanging punches in the AT&T Arena, the boxing world has been aghast. But isn’t it a high-voltage fight? Aren’t boxing fans keen to live the nostalgic feeling of watching ‘Iron Mike’ throw a thunderous punch and terrifying violence? Sadly, it’s neither.