When artist Jurek Zamoyski, 58, moved to the United States from Poland thirty years ago he didn't think he'd find himself tangled in a lawsuit over his own artistic creations years later. Unfortunately, he tells Spinner, that's the case.

"My beliefs and trust have been violated," Zamoyski says. "It hurts because he is the man who stood for justice."

The "he" that Zamoyski is referencing is Bob Marley, a musician Zamoyski has admired for many years. Zamoyski, inspired by Marley's music, created eight designs of the reggae icon, and between 1994-1996, three of those images -- 'Lion Zion,' 'Kaya Man' and 'Rasta Dreads' -- were licensed to Jurek International Graphics, and later became iconic images in their own right. In 1999, Zamoyski says the license was revoked but the use of the images continues still.

Zamoyski filed a complaint in the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, Western Division on June 30 against Fifty-Six Hope Road Music Limited, Inc., Bob Marley Music, Inc. and Zion Rootswear LLC for alleged copyright infringment and unjust enrichment.

Zamoyski's attorney, Paul Rapp, says he believes the case is clear-cut copyright infingement. "The fact of the matter is [Zamoyski] created these works and never assigned the copyright to anyone," Rapp says. "By law the creator retains the copyright unless he assigns it."

The lawyer for Bob Marley Music, Inc., Terri DiPaolo, said in an email message that Bob Marley Music had "valid agreements for the transfer of rights, which are signed by the artist's former employer and thus believe that there is no validity to the allegations contained in the complaint."

Mr. Zamoyski is seeking damages and "other relief as deemed proper," according to court documents.

DiPaulo tried to settle the case with Rapp, to no avail. Rapp said what they desire is for Bob Marley to continue to market and sell the images if they pay full royalties, as well as back payments to Zamoyski.

For Zamoyski, this is all unsettling. "Bob Marley gave hope," he says. "That's what his case is all about. It's a violation of hope."