Earlier this week, Birdman bragged that he'd made 100,000s off of branding the word 'Respek' on t-shirts and other merchandising.

Maybe he shouldn't have brought that into the open.

Because back in 2005 -- well before Baby melted down on The Breakfast Club -- an entrepreneur named JV trademark the word "Respek", and has been selling respek hats and apparel on at ThisRespekwear.com ever since.

JV isn't suing Birdman. Yet.

Instead he wants to talk first. But given Baby's policy of not paying people, expect this to land in court.