Interest

Man Sued for Power Rangers Hooded Sweatshirts

SCG Power Rangers LLC, Saban Capital Group's managing company for the Power Rangers franchise, filed a new lawsuit against Michael Alen for marketing "Power Hoodiez" custom hooded sweatshirts. A small company also named Power HoodieZ had been marketing the sweatshirts since last June or earlier.

According to The Hollywood Reporter entertainment trade news source, SCG Power Rangers LLC claims that the defendant did not have permission to use Power Rangers intellectual property, and the creation and distribution of the sweatshirts are "willful violations of copyright and trademark law." The Hollywood Reporter also noted that the United States Copyright Act does not allow a "useful article" such as clothing to be copyrighted, but it does allow "pictorial, graphic, or sculptural" elements to be copyrighted.

One promotional image for the hooded sweatshirts includes the following disclaimer: "Please be advised that the merchandise you are purchasing is in no way affiliated with the 'Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers®,' 'SCG Power Rangers, LLC,' or Saban Entertainment. Further, PowerHoodieZ™ makes no representations, connections, associations, alliances, or partnerships with any aforementioned entity." The Power HoodieZ company was operating a website and Facebook page, but both have been disabled.

Last October, SCG Power Rangers LLC sued Underdog Endeavors for selling Power Rangers Halloween costumes on its MyPartyShirt.com website. The dispute ended when the website agreed to surrender profits from the sale of the Power Rangers costumes.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter