Woody Allen sues American Apparel for $10m

by Staff, Brand Republic 01-Apr-08, 09:20

NEW YORK - Film director and actor Woody Allen is suing American Apparel for $10m (£5m), claiming the US clothing brand used his image in an ad campaign without his permission.

The ads, which feature a still of Allen dressed as a Hasidic Jew from his classic 1977 comedy 'Annie Hall', appeared on billboards and the internet in May last year, according to the lawsuit filed in the US District Court in Manhattan.

The lawsuit accuses American Apparel of "blatant misappropriation and commercial use of Allen's image".

The complaint reads: "Allen was not contacted, nor did he in any way give his consent to the use of his image and likeness, and he was not in any way compensated for the same, either prior to the infringement or thereafter."

Allen, director of recent films including 'Scoop' and Match Point, featuring Scarlett Johansson, said he does not endorse commercial products in the US. Therefore, the billboards that appeared were "especially egregious and damaging" and falsely implied that he was backing American Apparel.

Recently fellow US clothing brand Abercrombie & Fitch also involved itself in a controversial marketing campaign after it became a corporate sponsor of Columbus Children's Hospital in Ohio. The hospital renamed its ER the Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center.

For more on the Abercrombie & Fitch sponsorship read Gordon's blog.

Picture: by Colin Swan

Comments

Under Employed - 01/04/2008

I'm tempted to sue Woody Allen for making Match Point.

TONY ATTWOOD - 01/04/2008

There is a wonderful irony here. In his early stand up comic days Woody Allen did a fabulous routine in which a vodka company phones him up and asks him to endorse the vodka. Woody Allen says no and speaks out for a minuite or two on the evils of this kind of advertising, before the caller says "It pay $10,000". Allen replies - "I'll just get Mr Allen". If only this company had done their research properly and realised who they were dealing with. Next time, I'll lend them my recordings of his stand up shows.