The CMG legal team closely monitors developments in Intellectual Property law. In this section we have compiled a list of landmark cases that involve disputes over the use and valuations of celebrities. These cases have shaped the industry and the resolution of current Right of Publicity cases. For further in-depth review, we have also included the entire text of the most famous and influential decisions to date.

Downing, et. al. v. Abercrombie & Fitch, 265 F.3d 994 (9th Cir. 2001)

Comedy III Productions v. Saderup, 21 P.3d 797, 106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 126 (Ca. 2001)

Comedy III Productions v. Saderup, 80 Cal.Rptr.2d 464 (Cal. Ct. App. 1998)

ETW Corp. v. Jireh Publishing, Inc., 99 F.Supp.2d 829 (N.D. Ohio 2000) (Tiger Woods case)

CMG ANALYSIS of ETW Corp. v. Jireh (Tiger Woods case)

Perfect 10, Inc., v. Talisman Communications Inc., 2000 WL 364813, *1, 2000 Copr.L.Dec. P 28,092 (C.D.Cal. 2000)

KNB Enterprises v. Greg W. Matthews, 78 Cal.App.4th 362, 53 U.S.P.Q.2d 1885 (Cal. Ct. App. 2000)

Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. v. Sid Shaw Elvisly Yours, (C.A. 1999) (UK appeal)

Cairns v. Franklin Mint Company, 24 F. Supp. 2d 1013 (C.D. Cal. 1998)

Cairns v. Franklin Mint Company, 120 F. Supp. 2d 880 (C.D. Cal. 2000)

Cairns v. Franklin Mint Company, 107 F. Supp. 2d 1212 (C.D. Cal. 2000)

Brown v. Ames, 201 F.3d 654 (5th Cir. 2000)

Wendt v. Host International, Inc., 197 F.3d 1284 (9th Cir. 1999)

Henley v. Dillard Department Stores, 46 F.Supp.2d 587 (N.D. Texas 1999)

Hoffman v. Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., 33 F.Supp.2d 867, 50 U.S.P.Q.2d 1195 (Cal. Dist. 1999) (under appeal)

Newcombe v. Adolf Coors Company, 157 F.3d 686 (9th Cir. 1998)

Allison v. Vintage Sports Plaques, 136 F.3d 1443, 46 U.S.P.Q.2d 1138 (11th Cir. 1998)

Bear Foot, Inc. v. Chandler, 965 S.W.2d 386 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998)

Elvisly Yours v. Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., (Q.B. 1997)(UK case)

Page v. Something Weird Video, 960 F.Supp. 1438 (C.D. Cal. 1996)

Abdul-Jabbar v. General Motors Corporation, 75 F. 3d 1391 (9th Cir. 1996)

Cardtoons v. Major League Baseball Assn., 838 F. Supp. 1501 (N.D. Okla. 1993)

Cardtoons v. Major League Baseball Assn., 182 F.3d 1132 (10th Cir., June 29, 1999)

Stephan Fleet v. CBS, Inc., 50 Cal. App. 4th 1911, 41 U.S.P.Q.2d 1749 (Cal. Ct. App. 1996)

Page v. Something Weird Video, 908 F.Supp. 714 (C.D. Cal. 1995) [choice of law]

Ventura v. Titan Sports, Inc., 65 F.3d 725 (8th Cir. 1995)

Warner Brothers, Inc. v. Curtis Management Group, Inc., 1995 WL 420043 (C.D. Cal. 1993)

Waits v. Frito Lay, 978 F. 2d 1093 (9th Cir. 1992)

White v. Samsung, 971 F. 2d 1395 (9th Cir. 1992)

Midler v. Young & Rubicam 944 F. 2d 909 (9th Cir. 1991)

Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. v. Elvisly Yours, 938 F.2d 889 (6th Cir. 1991)

Frazier v. South Florida Cruises, Inc., 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2121, 19 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1470 (E.D. Penn. 1991)

Dorothy Ruth Pirone, Julia Ruth Stevens, Babe Ruth League, Incorporated and Curtis Management Group, Incorporated v. MacMillan, Incorporated, 894 F.2d 579 (2d Cir. 1990)

Neva, Inc. v. Christian Duplications International, Inc., 743 F.Supp. 1533 (M.D. Fla. 1990)

Midler v. Ford, 849 F.2d 460 (9th Cir. 1988)

Hustler v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46; 108 S. Ct. 876 (1988)

Sinatra v. National Enquirer, Inc., 854 F.2d 1191 (9th Cir. 1988)

Carson v. Here’s Johnny Portable Toilets, Inc., 810 F.2d 104 (6th Cir. 1987)

Apple Corps Ltd. v. Leber, et. al., 229 U.S.P.Q. 1015 (Cal. Super. 1986)

Onassis v. Christian Dior-New York, Inc., 122 Misc.2d 603, 472 N.Y.S.2d 254 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1984)

Stephano v. News Group Publications, Inc., 64 N.Y.2d 174; 474 N.E.2d 580 (N.Y. 1984)

Eastwood v. Superior Court, 149 Cal. App. 3d 409, 198 Cal. Rptr. 342 (C.D. Cal. 1983)

Genesis Publications, Inc. v. Goss, 437 So.2d 169 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1983)

Acme Circus Operating Co., Inc. v. Kuperstock, 711 F.2d 1538 (11th Cir. 1983)

Carson v. Here’s Johnny Portable Toilets, Inc., 698 F.2d 831 (6th Cir. 1983)

Cher v. Forum International, Ltd., et. al., 213 U.S.P.Q. 96 (Cal. Dist. 1982)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change, Inc. v. American Heritage Products, Inc., 250 Ga. 135; 296 S.E.2d 697 (Ga. 1982)

Groucho Marx Productions, Inc. v. Day & Night Co. 523 F. Supp. 485 (S.D.N.Y. 1981), reversed on other grounds 689 F.2d 317 (2d Cir. 1982)

Estate of Presley v. Russen, 513 F. Supp. 1339 (D.N.J. 1981)

Lugosi v. Universal Pictures, 603 P.2d 425 (Ca. 1979)

Zacchini v. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting Co., 433 U.S. 562 (1977)

Namath v. Sports Illustrated, 48 A.D.2d 487, 371 N.Y.S.2d 10 (N.Y. App. Div. 1975)

Tooley v. Canal Motors, Inc., 296 So.2d 453 (La. Ct. App. 1974)

Motschenbacher v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, 498 F.2d 821 (9th Cir. 1974)

Negri v. Schering Corporation, 333 F.Supp. 101 (S.D.N.Y. 1971)