Allen v. National Video, Inc.
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
610 F. Supp. 612 (1985)
Relevant factsFree
National Video (defendant) ran an ad featuring Boroff, who closely resembled Woody Allen (plaintiff), posing with a National Video card near movies associated with Allen, under text inviting customers to "feel like a star"; National Video admitted it wanted to evoke Allen's image but denied intending to suggest Boroff actually was Allen. Allen sued for false endorsement under the Lanham Act and moved for summary judgment.
IssueFree
Whether unauthorized use of a person's name or likeness in a manner that creates the false impression the person endorsed a product or service violates the Lanham Act.