NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New Edition singer Bobby Brown alleges his rights to publicity and privacy were violated in a 2017 documentary about his late ex-wife, Whitney Houston.
Robert Brown and the estate of Bobbi Kristina Brown filed a complaint on Nov. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Showtime Networks Inc., British Broadcasting Corp., Passion Pictures Corp., et al. citing the California Common Law Right of Publicity and other counts.
According to the complaint, in 2017, defendants promoted, distributed the film "Can I Be Me," a documentary about Brown's late ex-wife, singer Whitney Houston.
Brown alleges the film contains footage of him and Bobbi Kristina Brown that he and his late daughter never consented to be used or provided. He alleges he never signed or executed a release for the material used.
The plaintiffs hold Showtime Networks Inc., British Broadcasting Corp., Passion Pictures Corp., et al. responsible because the defendants allegedly aired the film without the consent of plaintiffs and utilized the life and persona of the plaintiffs for their personal gain.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment on all counts and amount to be determined by the court, plus interest, attorneys' fees, punitive damages, injunctive relief and any other relief the court deems just and equitable. They are represented by Christopher Brown of Brown & Rosen LLC in Boston, Massachusetts.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York case number 1:18-cv-11078-CM