Chaney Heirs Sue Universal Over Merchandising and Royalties

by Armand Vaquer

From the grave, dead actors demand their fair share of merchandising and royalty money Universal Studios is making off their likenesses.

Well, not exactly.  It is the heirs of the dead actors who are demanding their fair share of merchandising and royalty money made off the deceased's likeness.

Above, Lon Chaney, Jr.

Before, it was Bela G. Lugosi and Sara Karloff.  Now, it is the family (i.e., heirs) of Lon Chaney, Jr. who are after Universal Studios.

According to Deadline Hollywood:

The heirs of Old Hollywood continue to want today’s studios to pay up. Legendary horror movie actor Lon Chaney Jr’s family today went after Universal in the courts for more than $1 million in damages.

I guess there's wads of cash to be made. This year alone, I've seen the Chaney family's (company name: Chaney Entertainment) elaborate merchandise set-ups at the Mad Monster Party in Charlotte, North Carolina and at Monsterpalooza in Burbank, California. I have to admit, they have some pretty cool stuff!

Apparently, Universal breached an expired agreement (a representation agreement expired on December 31, 2008) between them and Chaney Entertainment. They continued to use the Lon Chaney, Jr. rights after the agreement expired allegedly without permission.

To read the full article, go here.