Woody Allen Sues American Apparel CEO - Holiday Central

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It's a make-it or break it time for retailers. The holiday selling season is always a critical time for retailers, but this year this may be even more true. With several retailers already falling victim to a drop in consumer spending, and filing for bankruptcy, retailers will be navigating through some tricky waters. Consumers are strapped for cash due to high energy and food prices, and unemployment is rising. The recent credit crunch has made it more challenging for retailers and consumers to borrow.

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Mar.31

6:05 PM ET

Monday, 31 Mar 2008

Woody Allen v. Dov Charney

Posted By:Margaret Brennan

Sectors:Media | Retail

Companies:Costco Wholesale Corporation

Oliver Quilla for CNBC.com
American Apparel's t-shirts and clothing better continue selling like hotcakes... because the legal bills at this retailer/manufacturer must be astronomical.

Now, filmmaker and iconic NY curmudgeon Woody Allen has filed a $10 million lawsuit against American Apparel [APP Loading... () ], claiming that the company used his image in unauthorized billboard and online advertisements.

Allen filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Monday regarding billboards that APP put up in May 2007 in Los Angeles and New York. The ads featured an image of Allen from one of his films -- dressed as a rabbi. The ads contain text in Yiddish which means, "The Holy Rebbe."

Allen, who has had plenty of legal woes himself back in the 1990s, is now seeking compensatory and exemplary damages as well as attorneys' fees on account of "American Apparel's blatant misappropriation and commercial use of Allen's image."

Allen allegedly didn't give consent to his image being used, and was not compensated for it. Click to see the lawsuit, courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.

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