Chuck Yeager sues airline for unauthorized use of his name

[sdennison]

I worked for Chrysler 25 years ago and knew Mr Shelby. Nicest guy in the world and 180 degrees from Yeager. You can build a Cobra and not have to pay him anything

Maybe directly, but I'm including indirectly as in buying parts from people who have licencing deals with him.... & as I actually used to build Cobras I know thats just about impossible.

& because of Sheby's hiring practices I darn near lost my home thanks to him.... So I know EXACTLY what kind of man he is. (PM if you want the details).

I built Cobra replicas for a number of years when I ran Excalibur Automobile Corporation here in Milwaukee. We never heard a peep. At the time, early 90's, it had been proven that the name "Cobra" and the design had effectively been in the public domain for so long and that there had been so many knock-off's without any action by Ford or Shelby, his window was closed. Anyone or everyone could use the name Cobra. You can't use Shelby or Ford, but Cobra was free.

Conversely, I tried to do a Ferrarri 1957 Pontoon Fendered TR 250 and they sent me a nasty gram that said if I even thought about it at night, they would sue. They had been very successful protecting their rights from the get go.

So, unless other things have changed and you are not using Carroll Shelby's name or likeness, I'd say you have a pretty good case for going forward. There are so many manufacturers of components, don't think that should stop you.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I don't think he should win this case.
His name is part of history and Virgin seems to have made no claims or used quotes or endorsements by the General. They just named famous aviators. As part of history and having been on television multiple time, the case can be made that he is a public figure. I won't go into all the ramifications that being a public figure entails, but it does limit legal recourse in many situations because they are putting themselves in the public eye "deliberately". It was his choice to do advertisements, TV appearances etc.
He might win in California though, so that was a smart move.
Jerry

[famvburg]

How presumptuous of him. How does he know Virgin wasn't referring to ol' Chuck Yeager, the lineman down at XXX? (Or the guy Buzz Aldrin who cuts yards for that matter.) About 20 odd years ago, he was here at VKS with a group for a week-long hunt north of town. My wife had given me his book for Xmas & I found out after-the -fact that he had been here (in a Citation III, IIRC) & regretted not being able to hit him up for his autograph. Now, maybe I didn't miss anything after all................

[mustangdriver]

IIRC He did not own "Glamorous Glen" did he?
All he did was stick the name on it anyway, the rest was all USAAF.

I have no rights to the paint scheme my work vehicle, do I?

Which brings to mind the Memphis Belle debacle...

And what are your thoughts on that one?

[Rogue]

I think Hollywood should do a movie about the man..................
and change the names to protect the arrogant.

but I also don't think you should be able to use the mans name or likeness without his consent.
If the intent is a famous person, not the lawn boy.

IIRC There are 2 Memphis Belles out there, one real and on clone.
That is like like the difference in a GT-350 and a 6cyl Mustang w/stripes and a hood scoop.
They're just not the same pony.

[mustangdriver]

I agree about the Belle. The big rub was that the Tallichet Group signed a deal with the Memphis Belle Memorial Association to always keep the movie Belle in movie style markings. Little by little the markings were changed to match the real plane, and then it was fully done like the real combat vet Belle. And after being told that the movie belle was the real one by a volunteer at the movie belle, the NMUSAF decided to support the MBMA's deal.

As for Yeager and this airline thing, I think that it would have just been in good taste to ask him before using his name in an advertisement.

[ZRX61]

Which brings to mind the Memphis Belle debacle...

And what are your thoughts on that one?

Keep the real one real.....

As for the other one: there were how many thousands of B17's built? Just pick another aircraft to honor...

& there are actually THREE MB's if you include one side of SallyB's nose art in the UK...

I feel the same way about various P51's.. How many Old Crows are there now?

[ZRX61]

So, unless other things have changed and you are not using Carroll Shelby's name or likeness, I'd say you have a pretty good case for going forward. There are so many manufacturers of components, don't think that should stop you.

The problem is finding out which ones actually pay Shelby.. Tony Banda is out of the picture because he pays Shelby..

[mustangdriver]

I hear you on Old Crow. I mean I love the markings of it and all, and have nothing but the highest respect for Bud Anderson, but there are just a ton of them. I'd love to see the B or C model get the markings of Shangri La. I tend to like the NMF D model Old Crow the best but that is just a personal thing.

I'd love to see Tallichet's B-17 get painted as any of the aircraft featured in the book, "The Pride of Seattle"

[ZRX61]

I'd love to see the B or C model get the markings of Shangri La.

Well.. there *was* one.... which was then painted red... & then moved around a bit as Princess Liz..

[Ztex]

I wonder if Buzz Aldrin is suing too?

(not a peep from that camp huh? )

And while we are on the subject....I hereby and forthwith copyright my name and and likeness of my name in-perpetuity.

[ZRX61]

I wonder if Buzz Aldrin is suing too?

(not a peep from that camp huh? )

I've only met 2 astronauts & they both seem like pretty likeable blokes (Cooper & Anders).

Actually I've also met a few of the shuttle guys but couldn't name one of them...

[sdennison]

So what were the FAA findings in the T-6 incident?

[warbird1]

I wonder if Buzz Aldrin is suing too?

(not a peep from that camp huh? )

I've only met 2 astronauts & they both seem like pretty likeable blokes (Cooper & Anders).

Actually I've also met a few of the shuttle guys but couldn't name one of them...

I've met several astronauts and they've all been wonderful experiences and nice people. I was lucky enough to have Buzz Aldrin on my aircraft once when I flew him to Houston. After the flight, he came up to the cockpit, shook both of our hands and said to me, "Nice landing". That really made my day and it meant so much to hear that compliment from one of my hero's growing up. Some times the smallest gestures make a life-long impression! What a gentleman!

Though I haven't met him, I have several friends who know a former NASA Shuttle pilot pretty well who apparently is taking lessons from Yeager on how to "make friends and influence people". He races at Reno every year, and before anybody asks, no it was NOT Hoot Gibson, who I've met and IS a class act. Looks like we have a Chuck Yeager Jr. in our midst!

[Jack Cook]

So what were the FAA findings in the T-6 incident?

pilot error