White v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

971 F.2d 1395 (9th Cir. 1992)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Vanna White (P) is the hostess of 'Wheel of Fortune.' A series of ads were prepared for Samsung by Deutsch, and they ran in a half dozen or so publication some with national circulation. Each ad depicted a current item from popular culture and a Samsung product in a setting of the 21st century. The ads lampooned current popular notions. The ad for Samsung VCRs depicted a robot dressed in a wig, gown, and jewelry, which Deutsch consciously selected to resemble P's hair and dress. The robot was poised next to a game board that looked like the Wheel of Fortune set. The caption for the ad read; Longest-running game show 2012 A.D., Unlike other celebrities, used, P neither consented nor was paid for the usage. P sued, and the district court granted summary judgment to D. P appealed.