Fresh beef: Kanye West sues ‘humble’ Melbourne burger shop

Ye, the musician formerly known as Kanye West, has launched legal action against a “humble” Melbourne burger shop.

Lawyers for the artist claim Ivanhoe’s College Dropout Burgers continues to have items on its menu named after West’s 2004 album.

The shop opened in 2021 with a logo inspired by the ‘Dropout Bear’ motif which featured on various Kanye West album covers between 2004 and 2007, and burgers named after the artist’s hits.

In June, Mr Elkhouri received a cease and desist letter from the rapper’s lawyers, and changed his shop branding in response to the letter.

“College Dropout Burgers has respectfully removed all references to Ye, establishing a new direction, theme and brand identity. I can’t understand what would motivate a major artist to sue a small humble burger restaurant on the other side of the world,” Mr Elkhouri said in a statement provided to 3AW Breakfast.

But Ye has pursued legal action against the restaurant, taking issue with its name — College Dropout Burgers. The College Dropout was the title of West’s debut album.

Melbourne barrister Matt Collins KC says the case “all just turns on whether people going into the shop to buy the burger would be misled or deceived into thinking the burger had the endorsement of the celebrity”.

Press PLAY below to hear a KC’s analysis on whether the case will succeed in court

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