Jay-Z & R. Kelly file a federal lawsuit

With their national concert tour set to start in days in Chicago, singer R. Kelly and rapper Jay-Z filed a federal lawsuit Thursday that seeks to restrain the selling of bootleg merchandise outside Allstate Arena and other venues.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the suit said the two recording stars granted Bravado International Group Merchandising Services exclusive rights to market T-shirts, jewelry, posters and other merchandise bearing their names and likenesses.

According to the suit, numerous unlicensed peddlers, manufacturers and distributors are expected to hawk unauthorized merchandise outside the concerts. The suit asks that federal, state and local law enforcement be ordered to seize and impound the bootlegged goods.

A Circuit Court judge allowed Kelly to go on the concert tour while awaiting trial in Cook County on child pornography charges.