UPDATEDx2: Eddie Gilbert’s Father Sues WWE Over Likeness Rights

UPDATE 2: WWE has issued the following statement on the lawsuit:

Through the years, WWE has acquired the legal rights to library footage of various former wrestling organizations including Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Mid-Southern Wrestling among many others. WWE has made these substantial investments to acquire these copyrighted works and has the legal right to use them. Similar cases in the past have been unsuccessful and we expect this case to be dismissed.

UPDATE: PWInsider has more details on the lawsuit filed by Tommy and Doug Gilbert. The site notes that the suit was filed last month in the Chancery Court of Henderson County, Tennessee and has been moved to to the U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee at the request of WWE and ESPN.

The lawsuit was filed by both Tommy Gilbert and his son Doug Gilbert, who are suing WWE, ESPN and ESPN Classics. The suit claims that WWE is using both Eddie and Doug’s likeness without having the rights to do so. ESPN airs Global Wrestling Federation footage on ESPN Classics; they have the right to do for GWF shows that aired on ESPN despite WWE owning GWF’s library.

The lawsuit alleges that the companies “violated the Gilberts’ rights of privacy and/or publicity by using their names and likenesses without permission or any license in order to obtain profits.” They claim that Doug and Eddie Gilbert never signed contracts with WWE and ESPN, noting, “Upon information and belief, Defendants have obtained significant profits from the use of the Gilberts’ names and likenesses.”

WWE’s response noted that they have won over similar lawsuits in the past, making specific note of the lawsuits filed by Doug Somerson and Richard Blood.

ORIGINAL: Eddie Gilbert’s father has filed a lawsuit against WWE for using footage of Gilbert to promote the company. TMZ reports that Tommy Gilbert, who is in charge of his son’s estate, filed suit against the company over Gilbert’s likeness rights. He claims in the suit that WWE is using Gilbert’s name and likeness on TV and other platforms without permission or compensation.

Gilbert isn’t trying to block the images from being used, but rather wants compensation (plus damages). WWE’s rep told the site that the company purchased the legal rights to use the old footage from wrestling promotions, promotions and the like and expects a dismissal.

This lawsuit is similar to the one filed by Doug Somers against WWE, which the company won.