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Actor Clint Eastwood and Garrapata, the company that owns the rights to his likeness, were awarded $ 6.1 million on Friday in a lawsuit they filed against a Lithuanian company accused of using the image and the likeness from Mr. Eastwood to give the impression that he endorsed their products.
Last year, Mr. Eastwood filed two lawsuits in Los Angeles federal court against three CBD manufacturers and distributors whose products were featured in an online article falsely claiming he supported CBD products, as well. as 10 online retailers he accused of manipulating search results. via meta tags. (CBD is cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating compound of the cannabis sativa plant.)
According to the first trial, the online article contained a bogus interview with media purported to resemble the “Today” show. It included a photo of Mr. Eastwood from an actual appearance on “Today,” as well as links to purchase the items.
“Sir. Eastwood has no connection whatsoever with CBD products and has never given such an interview,” the court documents said.
Judge R. Gary Klausner of the United States District Court for the Central District of California issued a default judgment after Mediatonas UAB, the company that published a fabricated interview with Mr. Eastwood, failed to responded to a summons in March. Mr Eastwood and Garrapata were subsequently awarded $ 6 million based on the unauthorized use of his name and image by the company, along with approximately $ 95,000 in attorney fees and a permanent injunction that blocks future use of its name and image.
“By pursuing this case and securing this judgment, Mr. Eastwood has once again demonstrated his willingness to confront wrongdoing and hold accountable those who attempt to illegally profit from his name, image and goodwill.” Eastwood’s attorney Jordan Susman said in a statement.
Mediatonas UAB could not be reached for comment.
Mr. Eastwood, 91, who recently starred in and directed “Cry Macho”, has enjoyed a long Hollywood career ranging from roles of tough guys (“Dirty Harry”) to directing dramas like “Million Dollar Baby” ( 2004), which won the Best Picture Award at the 2005 Oscars.
The initial complaint, filed in July 2020, named the companies whose products were advertised in the article as defendants. In February, lawyers for Mr Eastwood filed an amended lawsuit against Mediatonas UAB, the company that owns the websites on which the fake stories appear.
Although the court agreed that Mr Eastwood and Garrapata were entitled to damages for the unauthorized use of his name and image, it refused to grant their full claim, which also explained complaints for defamation.
“It requires additional context to understand what CBD products are and why a person like Clint Eastwood wouldn’t endorse a marijuana product,” the judge wrote, adding that the language used “was not defamatory to first sight”.
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