By NAN ET Writer
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Nov. 5, 2015: A Caribbean music icon who has been dead for 34 years remains very much “alive” on Forbes’ richest dead celebrities list.
Caribbean-born reggae legend Bob Marley moved up one place from last year to take the fourth place on the magazine’s 2015 list of highest-earning dead celebrities.
The late Jamaican musician raked in a cool $21 million over the past year, one million more than in 2014 to put him in the fourth place.
That was all thanks to earnings from the Marley Beverage company, producers of the drink Marley’s Mellow Mood, and House of Marley, makers of the eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products bearing the entertainer’s name.
The news comes as Marley’s children won a major court battle in the United States Supreme over the singer’s image.
The Court rejected an appeal from clothing companies claiming legal rights to sell shirts with the image of Marley.
Marley’s children control the rights to the reggae star’s image through a company called Fifty-Six Hope Road Music. The company sued rivals A.V.E.L.A. and others in 2008, arguing that their sales of the late reggae singer’s merchandise violated federal trademark law. A federal court ordered the companies to pay more than US$1 million in profits and damages.
The court agreed citing evidence on a Lanham Act claim made by the plaintiffs that consumers were confused about who endorsed the merchandise.
The Lanham Act protects against false advertising and trademark infringement.
