Woody Allen is no stranger to scandal, but in this latest conflict I have to say I side with Allen.
American Apparel Inc used Woody Allen’s image in a billboard ad without his permission, and after Allen reacted a short week later the ad was taken down. Now Woody Allen is seeking $10million in damages for the unlawful use of his image.
One billboard featured a frame from “Annie Hall,” a film that won Allen a best-director Oscar. The image showed Allen dressed as a Hasidic Jew with a long beard and black hat and Yiddish text. The words “American Apparel” also were on the billboard.
Allen’s lawsuit said the billboard falsely implied he sponsored, endorsed or was associated with American Apparel.
Slotnick said it was not a cheap shot to bring up Allen’s sex life in a lawsuit over the billboard and Internet ads.
The funny thing here is that American Apparel Inc is not denying the unlawful use of Allen’s image. They seem to be fully aware of that and are not even trying to dodge this accusation. I suspect their may have been some deliberate fabricated scandal here. One week of an ineffective billboard and now the news is all talking about their company.
Their whole tactic seems to be digging up as much dirt and controversy as possible about Woody Allen to reduce the “value” of the damages. Why would they want this despicable man to represent their product? If they can manage to prove that Allen’s image isn’t WORTH using to promote their product, then perhaps a judge will lower the lawsuit to a number they are more comfortable parting with.
“Woody Allen expects $10 million for use of his image on billboards that were up and down in less than one week,” Slotnick said. “I think Woody Allen overestimates the value of his image.”
I think it is more accurate that Woody Allen is absolutely certain about the value of image rights and the law.
But the simple fact remains… American Apparel Inc seemed to think it had value when they put the sign up or they wouldn’t have made the effort to do it in the first place.
