American actor Clint Eastwood and his representatives have failed to recover 50,000 euros from the CEO of now-liquidated Lithuanian company Mediatonas.
The Lithuanian businessman is accused by the US court of avoiding his liability to pay 6.1 million US dollars (5.26 million euros) for the unlawful use of Eastwood’s likeness to advertise cannabis products.
The Klaipėda District Court on Monday dismissed the claims of Eastwood and Garrapata, the company that manages his image and likeness rights, because the actor and the company failed to prove that they were Mediatonas’ creditors.
“Contrary to what the plaintiffs argue, the mere existence of a US court ruling is not a sufficient basis to declare that the plaintiffs are the company’s creditors. The US judgment, as well as the factual circumstances established by it, has no legal significance in Lithuania and does not create any civil rights or obligations for either the plaintiffs or the defendant,” the Lithuanian court stated in its ruling, which is still subject to appeal.
In October 2021, the US District Court for the Central District of California ordered Mediatonas to pay 6.1 million US dollars for unlawful use of Eastwood’s likeness.
In January 2022, however, the Lithuanian Court of Appeal refused to recognise the Los Angeles court’s ruling on the grounds that Mediatonas was liquidated in December 2021.
In 2021, Eastwood filed two lawsuits in the US court against three CBD manufacturers and marketers whose products were featured in an online article claiming that he endorsed CBD products, as well as 10 online retailers whom he accused of manipulating search results.
According to the actor’s representatives, Mediatonas illegally used Eastwood’s likeness to manipulate online search results and create the impression that the actor had something to do with the company’s products.
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