Debra Borchardt
Big Bang Theory star Dr. Mayim Bialik is suing dozens of websites and online markets that are attaching her name to CBD products without her permission. According to Law360, the star filed a lawsuit in Florida federal court on Thursday. In addition to her extensive career in the entertainment industry, Bialik earned her doctorate in neuroscience. Bialik is also an accomplished author with published works in the genres of young adult and cookbooks.
The court complaint stresses that Bialik “engages in deliberate consideration prior to permitting the commercial use of her name, image, likeness or persona, to ensure that she is associated only with reputable products, entertainment, services and/or companies, and to ensure that the value of her name, image, likeness and persona is not diminished either by association with products, entertainment, services and/or companies which she does not personally support and/or by over-saturation of her name and image.” Her complaint also states that Bialik has never endorsed any cannabidiol products.
The complaint suggests that the people behind the websites advertising Mayim Bialik CBD products are based in the Dominican Republic. They attach Bialik’s name to the CBD product and when the consumer clicks to buy, they get redirected to another e-commerce page where the name is dropped.
The complaint even uses an example of sponsored content in SF Weekly stating, “The headline of the article proclaims in large, bolded font: “Mayim Bialik CBD Gummies –
Shocking Scam Report Reveals Must Read Before Buying.” The small script in the byline reflects the anonymous nature of the author who is identified only as “Sponsor.” The photograph of the goods identify the featured Unauthorized CBD Gummies as branded by “Cannaleafz.” The article includes promotional language such as: “With the growing age, your happiness is going to remain with you with the remarkable Mayim Bialik CBD Gummies.” (emphasis in the original). The purchase link prompts consumers to “Order Mayim Bialik CBD Gummies Only Visiting Official Website Today.” When a consumer clicks the purchase link, they are redirected to a Product Sales Page.”
Sasha Cohen Said No Too
Bialik isn’t the only celebrity to get angry about the unauthorized use of their image for cannabis promotions. Comedian Sasha Baron Cohen the creator of the character “Borat” sued privately-owned Massachusetts cannabis company Solar Therapeutics Inc. and the company’s President Edward Dow III for $9 million. Cohen was angry that his likeness as the character Borat was used without his permission on a billboard that was placed on a busy highway. The lawsuit claims that by using Cohen’s image it looks as if he is endorsing cannabis products. Even though the company removed the billboard, Cohen continued with his lawsuit until recently dropping it this past May.
