50 Cent - 50 Cent Settles Out Of Court With Taco Bell

Rapper 50 CENT has settled his legal battle with U.S. fast food chain Taco Bell after accusing the company of using his name in an advertising campaign without his permission.

The In Da Club hitmaker, real name Curtis Jackson, filed suit against company bosses in July, 2008, alleging the promo was "diluting the value of his good name" by using it in conjunction with their 79-89-99 Cent Why Pay More campaign. He claimed the ad campaign suggested he was endorsing the franchise.

Taco Bell executives even offered to make a $10,000 (£6,250) donation to a charity of 50 Cent's choice if he agreed to change his name for one day.

In an open letter published a month before 50 Cent took Taco Bell to court, bosses stipulated he must visit one of the chain's restaurants and rap his order at the drive-thru window - using a new moniker: 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent.

But 50 Cent was not amused by the marketing ploy and took legal action against Taco Bell, seeking $1 million (£625,000) in damages.

However, the dispute has now been settled out of court, according to Bloomberg.

Results of the financial deal remain confidential, but the rapper's lawyer, Peter Raymond, declared on Monday (23Nov09) that "both parties are satisfied" with the outcome.