When your reputation is ruined

[Peikko 1,575]

Well, that's the claim. Any thoughts?

Link

Woody Allen: has called American Apparel advertising 'sleazy', 'adolescent' and 'infantile'. Photograph: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Woody Allen cannot sue an American clothing company for damaging his reputation in its adverts because he has no reputation left to ruin, the firm said today.

Allen has launched a $10m (£6.7m) lawsuit against American Apparel for the use his images in an advertising campaign, including one from 1977 film Annie Hall of Allen dressed as a Hasidic Jew with a long beard and black hat, without his permission

The veteran director, who does not endorse products in the US, has branded the clothing firm's campaigns "sleazy", "adolescent" and "infantile". His lawyers say Allen is one of the greats of US cinema, alongside the likes of Clint Eastwood and Frank Sinatra, and that the use of his image falsely implied he endorsed American Apparel's "low-end" products and damaged his reputation...

[jundp 191]

Any reputable advertising company knows you don't use a person's image without their consent. Regardless of whether or not Allen has a 'reputation' left, it's still wrong to use him like that.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Any reputable advertising company knows you don't use a person's image without their consent. Regardless of whether or not Allen has a 'reputation' left, it's still wrong to use him like that.

If it's a brilliant campaign and bound to generate loads of attention for the brand, then certainly, the lawsuit is worth every penny.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Woody needs to get over himself. Public personalities have a hard time winning a defamation suit, since they are already in the public eye, and have a ready forum to respond, i.e., "All press is good press, as long as it gets your name out there!"

[jundp 191]

I disagree. There's such a think as ethics in advertising. Using a person's image - regardless of their celebrity status -- without their consent is wrong.

[almaty 19]

woody, i thought he was dead...

[The_Dude 1,142]

I disagree. There's such a think as ethics in advertising. Using a person's image - regardless of their celebrity status -- without their consent is wrong.

I've worked in advertising and was told to the contrary. Anything to get the job done on budget

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Whether his reputation was "damaged" will have everything to do with whether or not he can quantify some $$$ loss - whether it be his directly losing money, or not being able to get a directing job.

Ultimately it will depend who actually owns the rights to the film images in question. Does Allen own the copyright?

I rather suspect that the studio does...