The lawsuit Woody Allen was bringing against Dov Charney and American Apparel for using his image in their advertising without approval was supposed to go to court today, but it's been had settled! The only thing left now is a semi-transparent Law and Order episode*, and we can put this whole thing behind us. From the AP:
Woody Allen agreed Monday to a $5 million settlement in his lawsuit accusing a trendy clothing company of using an image parodying him as a rabbi without his permission.
Both sides announced the settlement -- to be paid by American Apparel's insurance company -- on the morning a trial was to start in federal court in Manhattan.
Reading from a statement outside court, Allen said he hoped the outcome "would discourage American Apparel or anyone else from ever trying such a thing again."
Right. Because of how people are constantly trying to use Woody Allen's image to sell their products without his permission. Pepsi is like "why didn't we think of that?" If you trample the rights of one Woody Allen, you trample the rights of all the Woody Allens (or is it Woodies Allen?). Woody Allen is the Rosa Parks of Woody Allen rights**.
*Ripped from the headlines: a Jewish heiress is found impaled to death on a billboard without her consent.
**Obviously, Woody Allen was correct to sue and he deserved to win, but relax, "trailblazerforcivilrightsjeremy."
