Tiger Woods was concerned in a bitter authorized battle with an artist after he painted such an iconic Masters second.
Tiger Woods sued an artist in 2002. (Picture: Getty)
Few had the audacity to problem Tiger Woods throughout his prime, each on and off the golf course. That is one thing artist Rick Rush found, regardless of his repute for flawlessly recreating well-known sporting moments. The disagreement revolved round one of many former world No. 1’s most iconic profession moments, his first Masters title at Augusta in 1997.
The 48-year-old would go on to win an extra 14 main titles, changing into probably the most marketable stars in sports activities historical past. Nevertheless, only a 12 months after he first wore the inexperienced jacket, Jireh Publishing, owned by Rush’s brother Don, launched a limited-edition print of his sibling’s portray depicting the golfer profitable his first Masters. The prints have been offered for about £550 every.
Attorneys for ETW, an organization established by Woods to handle the advertising of his picture, shortly intervened. What ensued was a five-year authorized battle, the place the American’s mood reportedly flared.
Reviews from the time counsel that Woods was insistent on imposing his likeness rights. Consequently, Rush discovered himself caught within the crossfire and though a Federal District Court docket in Ohio initially dominated in favour of Jireh Publishing, in 2002 the star determined to sue.
His authorized representatives argued that Jireh Publishing had dedicated trademark infringement by promoting copies of the Rush portray. Nevertheless, an American courtroom dominated the next 12 months that Rick Rush himself had not violated Woods’ trademark.
Choose James Graham, delivering the decision, said: “ETW asks us, in impact, to represent Woods himself as a strolling, speaking trademark. As a basic rule, an individual’s picture or likeness can’t operate as a trademark.”
Rush, now 79, hailed it as “an enormous victory for freedom of expression.”
The media dubbed it a triumph for ‘David over Goliath’, and one of many few cases the place the icon did not come out on prime.
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Woods, who had already gained eight Main championships on the time, selected to not publicly touch upon the problem. Nevertheless, he would later face extra severe authorized points, most notably in 2017 when he was not the defendant in courtroom.
In Could of that 12 months, he was arrested for driving inebriated or medication after being discovered asleep in his automotive. He subsequently pleaded responsible to reckless driving, was given a 12 months of probation, fined almost £200, and ordered to finish 50 hours of neighborhood service.
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