Metropolis Reality Forums - Ruben sues '205' t-shirt makers

Sponsored by: The Fans!

Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register.
Nov 24^th, 2024, 1:15am

Upcoming Premiere Dates:
Survivor 23, Season premiere
Thursday, September 14 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on CBS

Metropolis Reality Forums Ť Ruben sues '205' t-shirt makers ť

   Metropolis Reality Forums
   Other Television Shows
   Other Television Shows (Moderators: lakelady, yesteach, MediaScribe, Bumper, Isle_be_back)
   Ruben sues '205' t-shirt makers

Previous topic | New Topic | Next topic »

Pages: 1

Add Poll

Notify of replies

Send Topic

Author

Topic: Ruben sues '205' t-shirt makers (Read 356 times)

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Ruben sues '205' t-shirt makers
« on: Aug 4^th, 2003, 5:00pm »

Quote

Modify

RUBEN DOESN'T LIKE THAT 'FLAVA'
Entertainment Tonight

August 1, 2003 | Remember those colorful "205" jerseys "American Idol" RUBEN STUDDARD made famous? Well, now he's suing 205 Flava Inc., the Birmingham company that makes the shirts. The Smoking Gun website revealed the court documents that show "Ruuuuben" wants damages for the unauthorized use of his name and likeness in their advertising. The suit alleges that by using his image the "Mom & Pop" store has turned into an international business. Apparently, the "velvet teddy" bear has a bite.

IP Logged

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Re: Ruben sues '205' t-shirt makers
« Reply #1 on: Aug 4^th, 2003, 5:02pm »

Quote

Modify

Maybe I'm mistaken, but it seems to me like the t-shirt people kinda got a raw deal in all this. Ruben went to them and told them he was going to be on American Idol and could they donate these shirts to him. They agreed, didn't charge him a thing, made all these shirts for him - custom made cause of his size, and wardrobed him. Then he got pissy cause they put in their advertising that he was wearing their shirts on American Idol. Right after that he stopped wearing their shirts on the show and now we have this lawsuit. Something just doesn't sit right with me on all this.

IP Logged

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Re: Ruben sues '205' t-shirt makers
« Reply #2 on: Aug 6^th, 2003, 7:26pm »

Quote

Modify

DID 'IDOL' RUBEN GET PAID?
August 6, 2003 | In response to the lawsuit "American Idol" RUBEN STUDDARD filed against 205 Flava Inc. for wrongfully profiting from his image, the clothing maker is slapping back. Attorneys for the owners of the company allege they paid Ruben $10,000 with checks made out to his brother, KEVIN, and his manager. "American Idol" expressly prohibits contestants from entering into contracts while on the show. Studdard's camp declined comment saying, "The public will hear from us soon."

IP Logged

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Re: Ruben sues '205' t-shirt makers
« Reply #3 on: Aug 6^th, 2003, 7:36pm »

Quote

Modify

Ruben Receiving Kickbacks?

by Lia Haberman
Aug 6, 2003, 9:30 AM PT

America's Idol might not have behaved so honorably.

Hip-hop clothing maker 205 Flava Inc. claims it secretly paid Ruben Studdard to wear their oversized jerseys on America Idol, in violation the show's rules.

An attorney for the company's owners, Willie and Frederick, held a news conference Monday to respond to a lawsuit filed by the Velvet Teddy Bear last week that accused the brothers of cashing in on Studdard's image.

Said lawsuit claimed that Ruben hadn't received a penny for the jersey sales, while 205 Flava had reaped close to $2 million in sales.

But that's not the way it went down, said the defendant's legal eagle LaVeeda Morgan Battle. Instead, she claims Studdard was the one who cashed in, producing copies of $10,000 in checks made out to Studdard's brother, Kevin, and his manager, Ron Edwards, who allegedly funneled the money back to the big guy.

Battle said Ruben told the Jenkins to keep their arrangement "confidential" because Fox bars American Idol contestants from inking contracts while on the show.

Attempts to reach Studdard were unsuccessful. His attorney, Byron Perkins, declined to comment, saying only, "The public will hear from us soon."

News of the payments were reported as far back as June in the Birmingham News. "When he wore the clothing, we paid him," said Willie Jenkins at the time.

According to the manufacturer's attorney, Studdard allegedly approached 205 Flava in March about getting paid to give the jerseys national exposure on the talent show.

The enterprising singer asked for $1,000 a week to wear the duds, with payments rising to $1,500 per week as Ruben continued to sing his way to success, said Battle.

"The payments were made as full and fair compensation," said the attorney.

The news doesn't sit well with American Idol Productions president of business and legal affairs Michael Jaffa. "We have major sponsors like Old NavyThere were issues promoting a brand in competition with our sponsors."

Calls to Fox on Wednesday were not returned, and it's not known if the allegations would affect Studdard's status as reigning Idol (no matter what Clay supporters claim).

Studdard, who recently inspired the "Ruben the Velvet Teddy Bear" line of plush toys from Applause, claims in his lawsuit that is was his idea to print 205--his hometown Birmingham's area code--on the XL jerseys. Battle disputes this claim, saying the logo was in use before Studdard started wearing the tops.

Ruben also accuses Flava of keeping his photograph posted on their Website despite his repeated requests for them to stop. Battle says the image wasn't immediately removed because the manufacturer had hoped to reach a deal with Studdard's management.

IP Logged