Quote:Bob Marley estate wins court battle against T-shirt merchandisers

Bob Marley’s estate has won a court case against a clothing company accused of using the reggae star’s likeness on T-shirts without permission.

Following many years of battling with the firm, the family of the late musician won an appeal against A.V.E.L.A. and other merchandisers who unlawfully used his image.

Marley’s heirs, known as Fifty-Six Hope Road Music, control the ownership of the late reggae star’s likeness. They previously sued A.V.E.L.A. in 2008 for using photographs of the singer on merchandise sold at US retailers such as Target and Walmart.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, A.V.E.L.A. argued that consumers would always “associate a deceased celebrity’s image with that of his or her estate”, but a judge ruled that plaintiffs only succeed if they “show more than mere association”.

An appeals court in Nevada decided that there was sufficient evidence that those purchasing the product were confused about who was endorsing the T-shirts featuring Marley’s image. In order to settle the dispute, plaintiffs conducted a survey of more than 500 individuals at shopping centres to ask: “Who do you think gave their permission or approval for this particular T-shirt to be made or put out?”

A total of 37% of those questioned said they believed the T-shirts were official, Marley-family sanctioned merchandise.

The recent win by Marley’s estate is the latest victory for musicians reclaiming control of their public image, following the recent lawsuit bought by Rihanna, which prevented Topshop from selling T-shirts displaying her image.

Quote:Godzilla Is Now an ‘Official’ Citizen of Japan
Olivia B. Waxman
June 3, 2015



Godzilla gets a sash of "Shinjuku-ward tourism ambassador" from the Kabuki-cho Shopping Area Promotion Association Chief Director Mototsugu Katagiri of Tokyo's Shinjuku-ward during its awards ceremony in Tokyo, April 9, 2015.

The special resident will serve as a tourism ambassador

A special residency certificate for Godzilla has been trending on Facebook after the fictional movie monster was recognized as a citizen of the Shinjuku area of Tokyo, Japan, in April. Copies of the papers were reportedly handed out to fans in the city late last month.

According to Rocket News 24, a blog that reports Japanese news in English, the special residency credentials note the character’s birth date as April 9, 1954, the year the first Godzilla movie came out. (See the rest of the language here.) A Godzilla head now reportedly soars 171-feet above ground at Toho, the movie studio that brought the famous creature to life.

Dr. Ivor Yeti Wrote:That "Ghost Gene" int he window is freakin me out! Is that what cats are always staring at, Ghost Genes that we cannot see?