OlderWoody Allen Wins American Apparel Lawsuit
Woody Allen has been awarded $5 million from American Apparel, after settling a lawsuit brought against the company by the filmmaker in 2007.
Allen, who sought $10 million in damages, had sued American Apparel for using his image on two billboards in 2007 without his consent (including the rabbi billboard pictured here).
Dov Charney, founder and chief executive of American Apparel told WWD, “Naturally there is some relief of not having to go through a trial but I also harbor a sense of remorse and sadness for not arguing an important issue regarding the First Amendment, particularly the ability of an individual or corporation to invoke the likeness of a public figure in a satiric and social statement.”
For the full statement from Charney, visit Guardian.co.uk.
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18 Comments
He needs the money since his movies don’t make money! Not that he’s going to get the complete 5 mil after taxes.
@raquel: Woody’s intention isn’t to set box office records. He isn’t McG or Michael Bay. He makes films of artistic quality.
@LolaSvelt: That’s most certainly true, but do you realize how absolutely lame that sounds when actually put down?
Dov Charney is a disgusting pedophile, and a moron, to boot. The first amendment does not give you the right to use an image from a movie for advertising without consent, and he owes Woody Allen every penny of the $5 mil.
I’m not a Woody Allen fan but AA didn’t just invoke his likeness, they used shots from his actual movies which isn’t ok. Seeing as how you need permission to use others’ film clips, photos and music for most things - I don’t see why they though it was ok to use someone else’s for an ad without that permission. An impersonator would have worked to invoke his likeness and not cost 5 mil.
Oh, the irony of it…one pervert trying to swindle another.
lol. as much as i wanted AA to win, because it would set a precedent for companies and advertisors, i KNEW that he would win the whole matter, whether in court or through an outside settlement, because lol woody allen is correct. we artists know you can “invoke” the likeness of someone (especially without concent) in a public high profile/recognizable campaign, as well as using that persons work (without significant remodification to make it a new piece) ubauthorized. what a douche thing for the people at AA to do this and think they can get away with it. i think they like being on the edge and i think this has kept their company in the news for a while…which means free promotion of their brand either way. i don’ think they think bad publicity is bad for themm so w/e. ugh.
I am so happy he won..who the f***k does American A. think threy are?
btw..Woody Allen is doing fine money wise.
He is America’s genius in film making.
Why would anyone think that Woody Allen needs the money? And he is right to pursue this and win.
It was absurd for AA to think this was acceptable. Hopefully this will set a precendent. He (Woody) is beyond odd, for sure (in his personal life), but as was stated above, as a film maker he’s pure genius.
c’est un remake de louis de funes!
American Apparel has the dumbest ads. Fake kiddie p*rn and now copyright infringement.
Douche Bags selling Overpriced t-shirts.
Normally, I’m all for First Amendment law, but Dov Charney is an idiot: he was making money off of Woody Allen’s image, which is NOT First Amendment case law, but rather copyright infringement. So, in the case of vile womanizer vs. vile womanizer, yay for… vile womanizer? Sigh…
Isn’t Dov Charney Canadian?
The owner of American Apparel isn’t even American, he’s from Canada.
He obviously does not understand what First Amendment rights are or what that the Constitution respects.
pssh whatever
the old guy got his
the funny thing was that AE’s law team was all saying that there was no way they were gonna pay him and that he was crazy and ****
lawyers aint nothing but bs
This guy has too many other lawsuits to worry about from women.
So sad! seems to be tough acting!
http://makeupadvice.blogcu.com/
He deserves to win. they should have just asked!
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