Motorcycle
The motorcycle company Harley-Davidson has settled a suit with the estate of Marlon Brando over the unlicensed use of the iconic actor’s name. Apparently, Harley-Davidson produced and sold a boot called the “Brando” which resembled the footwear worn by the actor in the 1953 film The Wild One. The details of the settlement are not public. What came over the Harley-Davidson company to think selling clothing called “Brando” would be a good idea? They license their own name for $43.2 million a year — surely they must know how copyright works. Perhaps they thought they could fly a little closer to the sun this time, though this writer asks: is nothing sacred?