Hearst Corp., King Features Syndicate and Fleischer Studios have filed a federal suit against 43 defendants for copyright infringement on the BETTY BOOP AND HER GANG characters. Hollywood attorney Gary Hecker, who specializes in copyright protection, is heading the case for Betty's owners. The defendants in the case include makers of electronics, underwear, t-shirts, jeans, baby clothes, jewelry and more. The plaintiffs are looking to have all the illegal merchandise impounded and are seeking, in addition to all profits made by the counterfeiters, punitive damages of $100,000 and statutory damages of $1 million per infringement. The Betty Boop character has long been a target of copyright infringement. Underground porn in the 1930s featured the suggestive cartoon star frequently.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
