Ric Flair Files Lawsuit
October 8th, 2007 by Brian Cantor
Sues company for using his name and likeness.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Ric Flair has filed a lawsuit against an auto dealership for using his likeness without authorization.
Flair’s suit alleges that Stivers Automotive of Columbia, through its Freedom Suzuki dealership, used Flair’s name, likeness and slogans in radio, television and print ads without acquiring permission.
“By using his name in an unauthorized fashion and not paying for it, it lessens the value of his persona that he has cultivated both in the ring and out of the ring over 34 years,” said his Eric Bland, his lawyer and agent.
According to the suit, locally run radio ads for the dealership featured a character named Captain Freedom saying, “”Whoeee … To be the man you got to beat the man! Rick (sic) Flair was right all you other car dealers out there.” The connection to Flair’s “woo” and “to be the man, you gotta beat the man” catchphrases was addressed in the filing.
Flair’s lawyer said that the company did attempt to obtain permission from WWE to use Flair’s likeness in the ads; it was never granted.
An attorney representing Stivers Automotive opted to postpone commenting pending a review of the lawsuit.
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Feb 20th, 2008 at 2:29 pm