Magazine writer sues Tupac filmmakers

NEW YORK—A magazine writer has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the creators of the new Tupac Shakur biopic, saying that portions of the film are based on his articles about the late rapper.

Kevin Powell says in the federal lawsuit filed Friday that “All Eyez On Me” borrows from articles he wrote and interviews he did with Shakur in the 1990s for Vibe magazine.

The lawsuit says, for instance, the film’s fictional character Nigel is based on a character Powell wrote about in one of his magazine articles. The suit says the character is based on Jacques “Haitian Jack” Agnant.

Powell is suing Lionsgate, Program Pictures, Morgan Creek Pictures as well as producers and screenwriters of the film. A representative for Lionsgate declined to comment Saturday. Morgan Creek Pictures did not immediately respond to the same email request for comment sent to Lionsgate.