Woody Allen is not happy
Woody Allen is suing clothing brand American Apparel over the use of his image on Billboards and the Internet.
The Match Point director, 72, claims the picture of him dressed as a Jewish rabbi was used without his consent.
He is seeking damages for more than £5million, according to legal papers filed in Manhattan’s U.S. District Court.
The adverts appeared in California and New York emblazoned with the Oscar-winning director’s face and taken from 1977 comedy classic Annie Hall.
Allen claims he did not enter into a contract with the company, nor received any money for the use of his picture. The US company, famous for its Eighties-style lycra and cotton clothing, makes and sells all its own products. - Keri Sutherland
What I find so bizarre about all of this is how anyone could look at the billboard and not see that it's a blatant parody. And in the states, satirizing a public figure is fair game under the first amendment. He's probably just doing it for the publicity. Doesn't he have yet another movie with Johannson coming out soon?
Posted by: jackcamp | 02/04/2008 at 05:39