American Apparel cites Woody Allen's affair with his stepdaughter after he sues over use of his image in ad campaign

This article is more than 11 years old

This article is more than 11 years old

Woody Allen cannot sue an American clothing company for damaging his reputation in its adverts because he has no reputation left to ruin, the firm said today.

Allen has launched a $10m (£6.7m) lawsuit against American Apparel for the use his images in an advertising campaign, including one from 1977 film Annie Hall of Allen dressed as a Hasidic Jew with a long beard and black hat, without his permission.

The veteran director, who does not endorse products in the US, has branded the clothing firm's campaigns "sleazy", "adolescent" and "infantile". His lawyers say Allen is one of the greats of US cinema, alongside the likes of Clint Eastwood and Frank Sinatra, and that the use of his image falsely implied he endorsed American Apparel's "low-end" products and damaged his reputation.

But American Apparel's lawyers are attempting to turn the tables by claiming Allen ruined his own reputation by having an affair with his stepdaughter, Soon-Yi Previn.

The firm's lawyers are targeting the torrent of negative publicity that surrounded the revelation in 1992 of Allen's affair with Soon-Yi, his then-partner Mia Farrow's adopted daughter. The affair led to the messy and very public break-up of his relationship with Farrow.

As part of its case American Apparel is demanding documents relating to any advertising endorsements that were cancelled or withdrawn following the revelation of Allen's affair with the then 22-year-old Soon-Yi, whom he married in 1997.

Allen's lawyers have said that the request for documents relating to the affair with Soon-Yi are "vexatious, oppressive, harassing" and not relevant to the case.

"Woody Allen expects $10m for use of his image on billboards that were up and down in less than one week," said Stuart Slotnick, a lawyer for American Apparel.

"I think Woody Allen overestimates the value of his image. Certainly, our belief is that after the various sex scandals that Woody Allen has been associated with, corporate America's desire to have Woody Allen endorse their product is not what he may believe it is."

"All I can say is that the company has apologised for the use of Mr Allen's image, however brief. And the company apologised if they offended Mr Allen's sensibilities."

The trial is scheduled to begin in a US federal court in Manhattan on 18 May.

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