The trustees of Marlon Brando's estate have filed suit against a clothing company over the unlicensed use of the Brando name in the marketing of a new leather jacket range.
Brando Enterprises has filed a lawsuit against Joe's Jeans, seeking compensation for damages.
The suit also seeks an injunction to stop Joe's Jeans from further "infringing and misappropriating the Brando name" and recover damages caused by sales and marketing of the unlicensed products.
The suit claims that Joe's Jeans has consistently used Marlon Brando's name throughout its marketing campaign for a leather jacket called The Brando, as well as an e-newsletter titled The Wild One - one of Brando's most famous films.
Brando Enterprises was established in 2009 by The Marlon Brando Living Trust to consolidate aspects of the Brando Trust. Co-trustees are movie producer Mike Medavoy, accountant and business manager Larry Dressler and Brando family friend Avra Douglas.
According to the suit, "At no time did (Brando Enterprises) ever give permission to (Joe's Jeans, Inc) to use the name and mark 'Brando' or 'The Brando,' or the identity or persona of Marlon Brando... nor has (Brando Enterprises) ever received any compensation for such unauthorised commercial use of the Brando publicity rights."