I held back from discussing Kim Kardashian's right to publicity lawsuit against Gap. Inc., Old Navy's parent company, because I think it is ridiculous. Kim claims that look-alike Melissa Molinaro was used in Old Navy's ads to portray a false affiliation between Kim and the brand. See ad here.
Where Kim sees an attempt to exploit her image, I see a slippery slope. Many right to publicity claims have succeeded in the past (cases brought by Bette Midler, Vanna White, & Cheers characters) but Kim's case can be differentiated: purposeful exploitation of her image is unclear because Molinaro read the casting call in an interview and it in no way sounded like a Kim K description.
While Molinaro resembles Kim, the episode is not show what we commonly see Kim doing. Molinaro was portraying an entertainer and Kim does not make money by singing or dancing--and from my understanding, she is not shown doing these things on her TV shows and I presume also not in the sex tape that made her famous.
If Kim succeeds in this claim she could succeed in stopping Molinaro from doing any job in the public eye and this is not fair. Molinaro's look was not really altered for the commercial: she has had the same look since her first TV appearances in 2005.
Right of publicity does not allow you to trample over the rights of another. If that were the case the entertainment world could not include all of the ladies below because they arguably have the same look and so one could not exist without infringing the other.
Alas, I have digressed from the topic that prompted my post: Kohl's new Black Friday, "Friday" commercials.
Kohl's recently released "Gotta go to Kohl's on Black Friday" is definitely ripe for a lawsuit if they did not get rights to use this song for their ads because although the words are different and sung by the star of the commercial who does not resemble Black, Kohl's is trying to benefit from the fame of Black's video that went viral. Under a copyright infringement claim I think that the Kohl's video would play out as a good parody under the Fair Use defense, I'd like to see what would happen in a right to publicity case here. -But I'd bet it would settle anyway :(
Yes, Kohl's version may be just as annoying as the original but I think it is effective because it is memorable.
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I feel America is way to sue happy. Kim K is holding herself to a standard so high that she is being unrealistic with this claim. There are plenty of people in the world that resemble each other. To bring on a lawsuit because someone looks like you is selfish. As if she doesn't have enough $$$ already. If we all sued someone because they emulated us, dressed like us, did their makeup like ours, look like us, etc we would all be suing each other daily. REDIC!
ReplyDeleteKim K is ridiculous! To sue someone because they vaguely look like you is insane! She has an inflated view of her worth. So sad.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Kohl's/Black Friday song I actually heard it for the first time last night. I thought it was both hilarious and annoying. I would imagine (hope) they purchased the rights to it!
I saw in a bunch of blogs that Kim K is justified in her lawsuit because the girl looks like her but I agree with Nina (below) that Kim K is insane but I do think they look incredibly similar. But like you said, what? Just bcuz of that suddenly nobody that has that "in" look is taking her glory? Just bonkers.
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Kim herself is so press hungry,she just needs any excuse to put herself in news(any sort)and make money out of it…worthless!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. Maybe she doesn't even believe in the lawsuit herself and just wants another reason for people to talk about her.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteRight. She can't "own" the right to heavy eye makeup and extensions ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree--and I need to post soon so that I can get Kim of of my front page! :D
ReplyDeleteYes, I hope the Judge dismisses this case against Old Navy as soon as it lands on the docket.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! I agree and hope this gets thrown out, if not where will it end?
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