According to the Hollywood Reporter, Audrey Hepburn’s son, Sean Ferrer, has sued Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund (also called Hollywood for Children) for trademark infringement. The charity also filed a lawsuit against Ferrer in February for not permitting them to have access to the Hepburn trademark without paying to a charity of Ferrer’s choosing with the fundraiser proceeds. Sean Ferrer was involved with the Fund, and his younger half-brother Luca Dotti now runs it. This seems to be a case of sibling rivalry as indicated by an article in Vanity Fair.
Both Ferrer and his half-brother are heirs to Hepburn’s estate
and rights which includes trademark registrations. In addition, both have agreed that “no third party may obtain a global, limitless” license and that “any license requires joint consent”. Based on Ferrer’s representatives, Hepburn Children’s Fund have obtained a global, limitless license from Hepburn trademark but neither Ferrer nor his half-brother had granted them such privileges.
There have been accusations that the charity is using Hepburn’s name on various goods sold for charity’s fundraisers as well as creating a website at audreyhepburn.com. Ferrer affirms that this charity that he helped fund has un-rightfully gained possession of personal and intellectual property rights under the Hepburn name. Ferrer and his attorneys are proceeding with the lawsuit by focusing on trademark claims to enforce full ownership of the Hepburn trademark and rights to the name.
Thank you Bhavini Mistry for your research for this article.
Both Ferrer and his half-brother are heirs to Hepburn’s estate
and rights which includes trademark registrations. In addition, both have agreed that “no third party may obtain a global, limitless” license and that “any license requires joint consent”. Based on Ferrer’s representatives, Hepburn Children’s Fund have obtained a global, limitless license from Hepburn trademark but neither Ferrer nor his half-brother had granted them such privileges.
There have been accusations that the charity is using Hepburn’s name on various goods sold for charity’s fundraisers as well as creating a website at audreyhepburn.com. Ferrer affirms that this charity that he helped fund has un-rightfully gained possession of personal and intellectual property rights under the Hepburn name. Ferrer and his attorneys are proceeding with the lawsuit by focusing on trademark claims to enforce full ownership of the Hepburn trademark and rights to the name.
Thank you Bhavini Mistry for your research for this article.