Hendrix Family Locked in Copyright Redux

SEATTLE (CN) - Companies owned by Jimi Hendrix's family members have accused a Web entrepreneur of violating their trademarks by using the famous guitarist's name and image on Internet merchandise.

Defendant Andrew Pitsicalis started off in Web design, the lawsuit claims, but eventually teamed up with Craig Dieffenbach to help promote Dieffenbach's companies, Electric Hendrix, Electric Hendrix Vodka and Electric Hendrix Licensing.

Plaintiffs Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix sued Dieffenbach in 2007 for copyright infringement and won a $3.2 million judgment.

"Mr. Pitsicalis was well aware of the claims against Electric Hendrix Licensing," the lawsuit claims.

But in 2008, Pitsicalis created HendrixLicensing.com and HendrixArtwork.com, which he used to license and sell Jimi Hendrix merchandise, the plaintiffs claim.

They say he "uses the exact same stylized signature logo of Jimi Hendrix that Dieffenbach and his companies used to promote their products that were held to infringe the Hendrix family companies' rights, and continues to use a logo similar to the logo at issue in the Dieffenbach litigation."

Plaintiffs seek an injunction, along with actual and punitive damages. Their lead attorney is John Wilson Jr. with Wilson Smith Cochran Dickerson.

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