Sandra Bullock settles lawsuit with watchmaker over use of her name

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/may/21/sandra-bullock-settles-lawsuit-watch-the-blind-side

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Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock has settled a lawsuit against the maker of a watch advertised as the one worn by the actor in hit film The Blind Side.

Bullock sued ToyWatch USA two years ago after the firm began promoting the diamond-encrusted white band timepiece as "the Sandra Bullock watch" and the "Bullock watch". The company said it was identical to the one worn by her character, Leigh Anne Tuohy, in John Lee Hancock's 2009 drama, which centres on a Tennessee family who adopt a black teenager destined to become an American football star. In the suit, filed at a Californian court, Bullock alleged her publicity rights had been infringed and flagged up concerns her name and image might become over-saturated unless she took a stand against misappropriation.

The actor said she "will not voluntarily appear in print or other media for a company or product unless she carefully selects and believes in the company and product, and unless the compensation she receives is commensurate with the value of the exploitation of her name, image, identity and persona". Citing her credits as an Oscar-winner for The Blind Side and a survey which named her ahead of Oprah Winfrey in terms of popularity with the American public, Bullock pointed out that the offending watch had been advertised via Google, Amazon and on the ToyWatch website. A video had also been placed on YouTube with the description "the white watch worn by Sandra Bullock in the movie The Blind Side …", she said in the suit.

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the lawsuit had been settled, though no details have been made public. Last year, Halle Berry filed a similar but separate $2m (£1.2m) lawsuit against ToyWatch's Italian offshoot. It reportedly remains outstanding.