Huey Newton Foundation Sues CafePress
by Janon Fisher, adweek.com
June 2nd 2011
The widow of Black Panther Party-co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton is suing a
California clothing company for $2 million for unauthorized use of his likeness.
Fredrika Newton is accusing CafePress of Santa Mateo, Calif., of selling Huey
Newton paraphernalia—including coffee mugs, tote bags, kids’ baseball shirts,
hoodies, sweatshirts, pins, buttons, and badges— in violation of the trademark
held by the Vallejo, Calif.-based Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation.
Some of the items, which have been listed as some of the most popular items on
the clothier's website, are emblazoned with the iconic photo of Newton sitting
in a high-back rattan chair, wearing a beret and holding a rifle in one hand
and a spear in the other. Others sport a picture of a black panther.
The foundation trademarked both images in 2008, but that was already two years
after CafePress started selling its revolutionary-themed clothing line.
CafePress declined to comment, citing the lawsuit, but appeared to have removed
the offending items from its website.
During his life, Newton helped black people combat civil rights abuses,
provided free breakfast for impoverished children and raised awareness of
sickle cell anemia.
But his legacy was a complex one: he was also a drug addict, who had been
charged with murder three times, once for allegedly killing a police officer.
He was never convicted.
Today his likeness sells rather well. And at $20 for a CafePress T-shirt,
according to the suit, it’s cutting into money that would otherwise be going to
the foundation, which uses the funds to work for social change in Newton's name.
The foundation, which is run by Newton’s widow, also trademarked Newton's
catchphrase “Burn baby burn,” which it uses on a line of hot sauces.
Original Page:
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/huey-newton-foundation-sues-cafepress-132171
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