Writer Says Fanzine Is a Horror Over Pay

RICHMOND, Va. (CN) - A writer claims in a federal lawsuit the HorrorHound fanzine stiffed him after he wrote several articles for the magazine, and refuses to repay $20,000 he spent on its behalf.

In his complaint, Ian Mattlock Moore says he began writing for HorrorHound in 2008, and that within a year, his twenty-six part "Video Invasion" series was a runner-up for a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award, an honor named for an obscure B-movie villain of the 1940s.

Moore says despite the popularity of the series, which examined VHS horror movie subculture and its history, and his other work, HorrorHouse has paid him only sporadically, and then, only minimally, and only when pressed.

"In addition, plaintiff often purchased goods and services on behalf of Defendant, with the promise that plaintiff would be reimbursed. Plaintiff advanced over $20,000 that has yet to be repaid by defendant," Moore says.

Moore produced his column for 27 HorrorHound issues between 2008 and 2013, before ending his working relationship with the magazine.

But the Video Invasion series continued to appear in HorrorHound without his permission, "all in an effort to benefit from the goodwill of the Plaintiff's reputation."

He alleges that HorrorHound continued to produce an imitation of his column -- renamed VHS Invasion, using his name and an almost identical design aesthetic.

"Defendant's infringement of plaintiff's trade dress and use of defendant's VHS Invasion trademark was intended to cause and has caused actual confusion in the marketplace," Moore claims.

He submitted an application to register his Video Invasion trademark on December 12, 2014.

Moore seeks compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive relief, on multiple claims of unfair competition under the Lanham Act, trademark infringement, unfair competition, misappropriation, and copyright infringement.

He is represented by Pamela Gavin of Richmond.

Representatives of HorrorHound could not be reached for comment.

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