This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Business News Legal
Settlement brings to end latest dispute between Experience Hendrix and late musician’s brother
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 21 October 2019
Jimi Hendrix’s brother has settled his latest legal dispute with Experience Hendrix LLC, the company run by the late musician’s estate. Leon Hendrix and his business partner Andrew Pitsicalis have admitted to trademark infringement and agreed to stop using Jimi Hendrix’s name and likeness to sell various alcohol and marijuana products.
Leon has had various disputes over the years with Experience Hendrix LLC, a company that is overseen by Hendrix’s adopted sister Janie. The most recent lawsuit was filed with the New York courts in 2017.
That lawsuit stated: “Over the past ten years, defendants Andrew Pitsicalis and Leon Hendrix, and a variety of individuals and entities with which they have been associated, have attempted to hijack plaintiffs’ trademarks and copyrights for their own personal gain. Federal courts have repeatedly prohibited those unlawful activities”.
In the settlement papers filed with the courts last week, Pitsicalis admits that his business ventures with Leon infringed an assortment of trademarks and copyrights controlled by Experience Hendrix LLC, as well as Jimi Hendrix’s publicity rights in those US states where such rights exist posthumously.
The settlement papers also reference a permanent injunction banning the defendants from any future use of the Hendrix IP, and a $2 million judgement against Pitsicalis which, it confirms, supersedes any past judgements in this domain.
Neither parties have as yet commented on the agreement, but it seems that it brings to an end all the various disputes with Leon and his business partner, while putting in place a wide-ranging commitment that they do not seek to exploit the Hendrix brand in any way in any future business dealings.
