Clint Eastwood has been awarded US$6.1m in a lawsuit over his image rights and CBD.

The actor-director filed the lawsuit against Lithuanian company Mediatonas UAB accusing it of using his image and likeness in a way that made it appear he was endorsing CBD products.

Two lawsuits against three manufacturers were filed in federal court by the Academy Award-winner over false endorsement, trademark infringement, and violation of common law. The products featured in an online article falsely claiming he endorsed them.

The article included quotes attributed to Eastwood and images that appeared to be from an interview in which he supported said CBD products, but the interview was fake. 

The judge ruled in favour of Eastwood as the defendant failed to respond to the summons sent in March. In addition to the $6.1 million, the company will need to pay around $95,000 in legal fees. 

According to the New York Times, the court documents said: “Mr Eastwood has no connection of any kind whatsoever to any CBD products and never gave such an interview.” 

Eastwood’s lawyer Jordan Susman said: “In pursuing this case, and obtaining this judgment, Mr Eastwood has again demonstrated a willingness to confront wrongdoing and hold accountable those who try to illegally profit off his name, likeness, and goodwill.” 

While the court ruled in favour of Eastwood and Gappapata, the company that owns the rights to his likeness, it declined to grant defamation claims, ruling defamation did not occur. 

Eastwood is not the first celebrity to take legal action against cannabis companies that have allegedly used their likeness without consent, with Sacha Baron Cohen filing suit in July.

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Hannah Adler

Hannah is a communications professional and early-career researcher in the disciplines of health communication and health sociology. She is a PhD student at Griffith University currently writing a...

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