Tara Reid has accused the producers of the films of misappropriating her likeness and image "for a commercial purpose without her consent"
Tara Reid. Pic/AFP
Tara Reid is taking the Sharknado producers to court. Reid has accused the producers of the films of misappropriating her likeness and image "for a commercial purpose without her consent," including slot machines and alcoholic beverages, according to court documents filed on December 6 and obtained by The Blast, reports people.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
She is now suing Asylum Entertainment and SYFY Media Productions for USD 100 million in damages. A representative for Reid did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. The documents state that "(Reid) alleges that defendants and each of them without her knowledge and prior written consent misappropriated her likeness for the commercial purpose of endorsing by implication gambling products and alcoholic beverages."
The suit claims that the defendants "wrongfully licensed the rights to use Tara Reid's likeness (which they do not own) to manufacturers of slot machines, gambling products, and beer makers, who in turn have marketed their products with her likeness, and continue to wrongfully trade and profit therefrom."
As a result, Reid, who stars as April Wexler in the films, alleges that the defendants made "millions of dollars in profits - from the marketing, sale, lease, and distribution of "Sharknado" slot machines bearing the likeness of Plaintiff Tara Reid," the documents state. As to why she's suing for $100 million, the documents explain: "As such, the actions of the Defendants were malicious and oppressive and justify an award of punitive and exemplary damages in an amount sufficiently large to set a public example of deterrence, and in an amount no less than $100,000,000.00."
She is suing for false endorsement and misappropriation of celebrity likeness, as well as common law wrongful appropriation of likeness and breach of written contract. She is also requesting "preliminary and permanent injunctive relief" and demanding a jury trial.
Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever