Siblings fight over Jimi Hendrix image

Published: July 12, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Order reprints
SEATTLE, July 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Seattle must decide whether Jimi Hendrix's brother can use the 1960s rock star's image to market a brand of vodka.

The dispute between Leon Hendrix and his adoptive sister, Janie, is the latest skirmish in a long family feud over control of Jimi Hendrix's estate, The Seattle Times reported.

Hendrix died in London in 1970, leaving no will, and his father, Al Hendrix, inherited his estate. Janie Hendrix has controlled the estate since the elder Hendrix died in 2002.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly heard arguments Friday on whether the picture of Jimi Hendrix on Hendrix Electric Vodka is too similar to the image of the singer used by the Hendrix estate to market other products. Janie Hendrix's attorneys also argued that using Jimi's name to sell vodka is offensive, given that his death was caused by mixing alcohol and drugs.

"She cheated me out of my inheritance," Leon Hendrix said later. "She blackmailed my father. I had to go find another business, another way to make money to send my kids to college."


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Britain aims to recruit social workers (4 min)
MLB: Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 2 (8 min)
Boston transit fare increase proposed (12 min)
Group of 14 to become summit fixture (16 min)
MLB: St. Louis 5, Milwaukee 1 (20 min)
Well-dressed begger says good clothes help (22 min)
Prosecutors drop Barry stalking case (28 min)
fark
MoveOn.org draws a crowd of 30 demonstrators in Alabama. None miss work
People were looking for sexual favors on Craigslist in exchange for tickets to Michael Jackson's...
Toronto mayor tries to tell world everything is fine; cut off as press conference attacked by giant...
"If it weren't for overdraft fees, 45% of banks and credit unions wouldn't have made money in 2008"...
Woman's cunning attempt to elude police during car chase ends when she A. Hits a tree B. Runs out...
Obama: Poorer nations should fight harder against global warming. Poorer Nations: Obama should EABOD....