Woody is angry: American auteur sues American Apparel :: Music News :: Articles

American Apparel, those purveyors of so many solid-colored, jersey-knit garments, have managed to anger the king of the neurotic comedy. Woody Allen filed a lawsuit Monday against the clothing line for using an image of him dressed as a rabbi from his film Annie Hall in an ad, asserting that he had given no permission for the usage. The billboard sports a still from the movie, accompanied by the Yiddish for "the holy rebbe" and the American Apparel logo.

The Associated Press reports Allen wants at least $10 million in compensatory damages and unspecified punitive damages for the the unauthorized use of his image in conjunction with the brand. He objects to the company's use of provocative images in its advertising, but more specifically to the implication of his endorsement when he never sponsors products in the United States.

Allen, whose last released film was 2007's Cassandra's Dream, will release Vicky Cristina Barcelona later this year, and is currently filming an as-yet-untitled project, reportedly to star Evan Rachel Wood, Henry Cavill and Larry David.