Drake has notched another legal victory. A copyright infringement lawsuit filed against him last November by Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti has officially been dismissed, according to an exclusive report from AllHipHop’s Grouchy Greg Watkins.
Galimberti originally accused Drake of “direct” copyright infringement over visuals featured in the rapper’s What Did I Miss? music video, which dropped in July. The complaint focused on a brief moment—around the 14-second mark—where firearms are arranged in a manner Galimberti claimed closely mirrored imagery from his own photography project, The Ameriguns.
Beyond the visual similarities, the lawsuit also made a controversial claim about intent. Galimberti alleged that Drake attempted to draw a parallel between their public controversies, pointing to how both had faced allegations in recent years. In Drake’s case, those accusations were raised by Kendrick Lamar during their highly publicized feud. Galimberti’s own controversy stemmed from a Balenciaga ad campaign he photographed that featured children holding teddy bears dressed in S&M-style outfits.
The lawsuit suggested Drake was trying to imply he would be publicly cleared in a similar fashion, especially following the dismissal of his own defamation claim tied to Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics.
Now, that case is over—for good. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning Galimberti is barred from refiling the complaint in the future. He will also be responsible for covering his own legal fees.
At this time, it’s unclear whether Drake and Galimberti reached a private settlement. However, the sudden dismissal suggests a behind-the-scenes resolution may have played a role.
The legal news arrives as excitement continues to build around Drake’s forthcoming ninth studio album, ICEMAN. While an official release date has yet to be announced, rumors suggest the project could arrive sooner rather than later—adding even more momentum to a period that’s turning out to be a win for the Toronto superstar both in and out of the courtroom.
