Interesting article from Detroit Free Press

[pica]

The family of a Motown great is out to guard his name.



Annie Jamerson, widow of Detroit’s late James Jamerson, has sued a New York company for using the bassist’s name and image in its marketing.

Her attorney filed suit today against La Bella Strings, which touts James Jamerson in the packaging and ads for a set of bass strings it describes as “the fullest and deepest sounding.” The complaint, filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, says that interferes with Jamerson’s right of publicity, which passes to a figure’s heirs. The suit seeks at least $25,000.

Pontiac attorney Jeffrey Thennisch sent cease-and-desist letters last year to several companies using Jamerson’s image on products, including T-shirts and posters. All complied but La Bella, he said, despite an initial indication it would do so.

La Bella representatives could not be reached for comment.

“She’s not out looking for people to sue. This is the last thing she wanted to do,” Thennisch said of Annie Jamerson, 68. “We gave them multiple chances. They’re more interested in making money off the product than with Annie’s rights.”

James Jamerson, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, played on most of Motown’s biggest hits in the 1960s. He died in 1983 at age 47.

[John Wentzien]

The family should absolutely get some vig from that..No question.

[stratovani]

I checked out La Bella's web site, and there was no mention of James Jamerson anywhere as far as I could see. At juststrings.com they sell La Bella's "Original 1954" strings, and they (not La Bella) call them the "Jamerson set". And looking at the blown-up picture of the packaging I didn't see Jamerson's name anywhere (don't know about the back, but I'm assuming it's not there either). In the La Bella catalog there's a description of the Original 1954s, and they state that Donald "Duck" Dunn uses them, but he's a paid endorser. Now I'm no lawyer, and admittedly my information is probably a bit thin, but it looks to me like the Jamerson estate doesn't have a case. However, she probably does have a case against juststrings.com.