A new lawsuit has emerged, bringing Vince McMahon and WWE into legal focus over allegations of intellectual property theft. Leland Owens claims that McMahon, representing WWE, took advantage of his creative contributions under a verbal agreement. Owens asserts that he was never compensated for these ideas and is seeking substantial damages in court.
Allegations Against Vince McMahon and WWE
Leland Owens’ complaint, filed on November 4th, follows a previous suit that was dismissed due to incomplete financial documentation. In this revised lawsuit, Owens claims that he entered into a verbal agreement with WWE to provide creative ideas, which he alleges were used without his authorization or remuneration.
According to Owens, both WWE executives and agents, including Stephanie McMahon and Daniel Bryan (named as such in the suit), were directly involved in the alleged misappropriation. Owens further claims that he was offered “hush money” to stay silent on the issue, heightening the controversy surrounding WWE’s handling of his creative work.
Details of the Intellectual Property Theft Lawsuit
The lawsuit includes several unusual allegations, including comments made by Stephanie McMahon and involvement from other high-profile WWE names.
Owens is pursuing $500 million in damages, underscoring the gravity of the accusations. The suit also mentions that Mercedes Moné (formerly Sasha Banks) acted in a representative role for WWE during the alleged offer of hush money.
WWE’s Legal Response and Potential Implications
As of now, WWE has not issued a public response to the lawsuit. If Owens’ claims hold up in court, this case could lead to a significant payout and potentially influence WWE’s approach to handling creative contributions from independent creators.
Given WWE’s vast influence and reach, the resolution of this case may also prompt other creators to come forward if they feel similarly wronged.