LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Clint Eastwood sued three CBD manufacturers and online marketers today in Los Angeles, alleging they posted online articles falsely claiming that the Academy Award-winning actor-director endorsed their products.
Attorneys for the 90-year-old filmmaker filed the two suits in federal court, seeking millions in damages and a judge's order that the companies give up their profits and stop using his name and likeness.
The first complaint for defamation names three CBD companies – Sera Labs Inc., Greendios and For Our Vets LLC -- that allegedly produced fake news articles and supposed interviews claiming that Eastwood endorsed their products and that he was quitting films to focus on the CBD business.
The second suit asserts that 10 companies and individuals are using programming code to insert Eastwood's name into online search results for CBD products, tricking consumers into thinking the “Dirty Harry'' star is endorsing them.
“Mr. Eastwood has no connection of any kind whatsoever to any CBD products and never gave such an interview,'' according to court documents.
The companies named in the suit could not be reached for comment.
Eastwood's attorneys allege that the first complaint arises “from an online scam that uses a false, defamatory and wholly fabricated `news article' about Mr. Eastwood to promote and sell cannabidiol products.''
The fraudulent `article' prominently features photographs of Eastwood and references a fabricated interview with the actor in which he “touts his purported line of CBD products,'' attorneys wrote. “Like many of his most famous characters, Mr. Eastwood is not afraid to confront wrongdoing and hold accountable those that try to illegally profit off his name or likeness.''
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