A recent decision of U.K Chancery Division allowed an action by
Rihanna relating to a claim of false endorsement resulting from the
sale of a garment bearing an image of her.
The Facts
Rihanna is a world famous pop star with a cool, edgy
image. The evidence showed that she is a style icon and trend
setter with a core following of women from their teens to their
thirties. It was also shown that Rihanna and those associated with
her go to great lengths to seek to control her image. Rihanna was
working hard to identify herself as a serious fashion designer and
items such as the t-shirt in issue did not support that goal.
Through her companies she runs a very large merchandising and
endorsement operation. She has or has had endorsement agreements
with NIKE, GILLETTE, CLINIQUE and LG MOBILE. Her merchandising
business was managed by an independent company called Live Nation.
Live Nation paid a significant sum for the right to sell Rihanna
merchandise, including
