Posted on 08/11/2014 12:43:32 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
The great-grandsons of a woman who depicted "Aunt Jemima" want $2 billion from the companies whose pancake products bear her name.
The two men accuse Quaker Oats, Quaker's parent company PepsiCo and Pinnacle Foods of theft of royalties, fraud and racial discrimination.
Quaker Oats is the maker of Aunt Jemima pancake mixes and syrup. Pinnacle Foods currently makes Aunt Jemima frozen pancakes, waffles and French toast.
In their suit, D.W. Hunter and Larnell Evans say Quaker Oats representatives discovered their great-grandmother making pancakes at the New York State Fair in 1935. Anna S. Harrington portrayed the character in commercials and other public appearances for 15 years.
The suit says Quaker used Harrington's pancake recipes and trademarked her likeness as the character "Aunt Jemima" in 1937.
The great-grandsons say Quaker exploited Harrington with the intent of not paying royalties toward her estate after her death in 1955. They claim the companies conspired not to acknowledge Harrington's status as an employee of Quaker Oats by saying they could not find any employment records or images of her. But they say, Quaker had her image deposited with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
(Excerpt) Read more at m.wgal.com ...
Have the Mrs. Butterworth heirs sued yet?
I won’t comment because I like pancakes.
Old McDonald had a farm. Maybe his heirs should sue the golden arches.
Don't know, are they entitled to reparations?
And what are Uncle Ben and Cream of Wheat guy, chopped liver?
This supposedly happened in 1937 and she died in 1955? Just speculating, but there may be a wee tad of a statute of limitations problem here.
How about Uncle Ben?
Is the “Light” Crust Doughboys racist?
Wanna bet theat they are #3 and #4 on Eric Holder's priority list.
I presume she was well paid to do the commercials. And that they had her sign some sort of copyright agreement before they signed her on.
Buckwheat!
Our local IGA store would occasionally have an Aunt Jemima look alike giving away tiny sample pancakes - late 50’s, early 60’s.
Can we old white men all sue the cracker companies, then?
Seems like the heirs should have to prove that nothing was ever paid to Aunt Jemima.
George Washington Carver's heirs are going to be coming after Edward "Skippy" Williamson and Frederick "Jif" Armstrong's families now!
Ba da bump.
"I'm Uncle Jemima. You probably know my wife - Aunt Jemima, the pancake lady."
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