ST. LOUIS (CN) - A federal judge will not stop Warner Bros. from releasing "The Hangover 2" on Thursday, despite finding that a tattoo artist is likely to prevail on his claim for damages. But the judge found that theater owners and others in the movie distribution chain will be irreparably harmed if the movie release is blocked.
U.S. Judge Catherine Perry refused to grant tattoo artist S. Victor Whitmill's request to block the movie's release, even though Perry found that Whitmill was likely to win monetary damages at trial.
Whitmill sued Warner Bros. in April, after marketing for "The Hangover 2" featured a character with a facial tattoo similar to the one Whitmill designed for boxer Mike Tyson, who appeared in the original movie, "The Hangover."
Whitmill claims he owns all rights to the image and that Warner Bros. pirated the tattoo for its own gain.
"The Hangover" made more than $277 million in the United States after its 2009 release.
Lawyers told Judge Perry that settlement negotiations have begun regarding monetary compensation to Whitmill.
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