LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - May 24, 2010) - Brando Enterprises has filed a lawsuit against denim clothing designer and retailer Joe's Jeans for unlicensed use of the Brando name in connection with a line of leather jackets marketed as "The Brando."
The suit, which was filed by entertainment and licensing attorney Jeffrey I. Abrams, Esq. of Los Angeles-based Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro & Schulman, LLP, seeks an injunction to stop Joe's Jeans, one of the top clothing designers and retailers in the world, from further infringing and misappropriating the Brando name and recover damages caused by sales and marketing of the unlicensed products.
Brando Enterprises was established in 2009 by The Marlon Brando Living Trust to consolidate aspects of the Brando Trust and former Brando loan out corporation Penny Poke Farms into a single operating entity. Brando Enterprises' mission is to protect the Marlon Brando name, likeness and personality, manage the preservation and archiving of Brando memorabilia for the purpose of future exploitation and film participation interests and oversee licensing programs based on the iconic film star according to his wishes and on behalf of the Brando family beneficiaries. Co-trustees are movie producer Mike Medavoy, accountant and business manager Larry Dressler and family friend Avra Douglas.
Filed in May, the suit claims that Joe's Jeans has consistently used Marlon Brando's name throughout its marketing campaign for a leather jacket called "The Brando," as well as an e-newsletter titled "The Wild One," one of Mr. Brando's most famous pictures, which featured a shoe by the name of "Stella," the leading female character in A Streetcar Named Desire.
According to the suit "At no time did [Brando Enterprises] ever give permission to [Joe's Jeans, Inc] to use the name and mark 'Brando' or 'The Brando,' or the identity or persona of Marlon Brando... nor has [Brando Enterprises] ever received any compensation for such unauthorized commercial use of the Brando publicity rights."
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