FortyCal Sues Pigeons & Planes Owner Over Waka Flocka & EsDeeKid Clips
Originally published by AllHipHop Read the original
FortyCal took the owner of Pigeons & Planes to court over four concert videos, claiming the platform used his footage without paying for permission.
The Cincinnati photographer and videographer, known legally as Calan Beasley, sued Commerce Media Holdings, LLC in California federal court on October 27.
Working as Forty Cal Productions, he accused the company of using clips featuring Waka Flocka Flame, EsDeeKid and Fakemink without permission. The artists appeared in the clips, but the complaint named Commerce Media Holdings as its only defendant.
Two videos featured Waka Flocka at the 2025 Gathering of the Juggalos in Thornville, Ohio. One showed the rapper with FortyCal and fans, while the other captured him in a mosh pit.
FortyCal said he posted EsDeeKid performing “Rottweiler” at Chicago’s Avondale Music Hall on February 3, 2026. His Fakemink video captured “LV Sandals” at the artist’s first New York City show and was posted on September 8, 2025, the suit said.
According to the complaint, Pigeons & Planes accounts posted the EsDeeKid clip the next day across Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok. The filing also identified posts using the Waka Flocka footage in August 2025 and the Fakemink clip that September.
FortyCal said he licenses his work to media companies and other businesses, arguing that unauthorized copies cost him paid licensing opportunities.
“Defendant’s use of the Videos harmed the actual market for the Videos,” the complaint stated.
He also accused the company of gaining traffic, ad revenue and promotional value from the posts. His claims included direct copyright infringement and a second claim alleging that the company controlled the people posting the clips and benefited from their use.
The U.S. Copyright Office says an original work gains protection as soon as it is recorded. Registering a work can also affect what a creator may recover through a successful lawsuit in court.
Rod Wave also faced a photographer’s copyright lawsuit over a concert photo allegedly used for his album art without permission.
FortyCal sought damages tied to his losses and the company’s profits, plus an order stopping further infringement. He sought statutory damages as an alternative only for the EsDeeKid clip, without naming a fixed dollar demand.
FortyCal also asked for a jury to hear the case against Commerce Media Holdings in federal court.
