Los Angeles Intellectual Property Trademark Attorney Blog
Los Angeles, CA – Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s lawyers filed suit at the Federal District Court in Los Angeles against high-end baby carriage maker Silver Cross. The complaint alleges that Silver Cross “knowingly and intentionally misappropriated and used the names, images, likenesses and photographs of Lopez and Anthony to market and sell Defendants’ line of high-end baby carriages throughout the world.” The offending picture – which can still be obtained from Defendants’ website and is reproduced herein – was allegedly shown on Defendants’ website and other marketing and promotional materials.
In addition to the right of publicity claim, Jennifer Lopez makes a Lanham Act § 43(a) trademark infringement claim because she uses “J-Lo” and “Jennifer Lopez” as trademarks on a variety of goods. And she alleges that Defendants’ use of her name to promote their products is likely to cause confusion as to the source or sponsorship of Defendants’ goods. Also, Nuyorican – the picture’s copyright holder – is named as an additional plaintiff and asserts a copyright infringement claim for unauthorized use of the subject picture. Plaintiffs are demanding at least $5,000,000 in damages for each of their six causes of action. The case is titled Jennifer Lopez, et al. v. Silver Cross (UK) Ltd. et al., CV 09-01345 AHM (C.D. Cal. 2009).