Posted on 08/02/2023 12:52:19 PM PDT by Morgana
(RNS) — Jerry Falwell Jr., the former president of Liberty University, is suing the school, arguing administrators are committing trademark infringement by using the late Jerry Falwell Sr.’s likeness without consulting with the family.
The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court last week on behalf of Falwell Jr. and the family trust, accuses the school of misappropriating “for itself” the name and image of Falwell Sr., the conservative Christian evangelist who co-founded the evangelical university in 1971.
“The University has now-repeatedly distributed advertising and promotional materials that use the JERRY FALWELL trademark—as well as Dr. Falwell’s name and image—in a manner that is likely to leave consumers confused as to the relationship between Liberty University and the JERRY FALWELL brand and the Falwell Family Trust,” the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit claims the school has already created a custom font based on Falwell Sr.’s handwriting for advertising purposes and even created a hologram of the late evangelist. It also notes the school’s intention to create a Jerry Falwell Center on campus as a welcome center for future students, a move it alleges also infringes on the trademark.
Falwell Sr., a pastor and nationally known televangelist who emerged as a prominent political figure in the 1990s, ran the school until he died at his desk in 2007. It struggled financially during his tenure but rebounded under his son, Falwell Jr., who invested heavily in online education. During his tenure Liberty became one of the largest Christian schools in the country.
Falwell Jr. resigned as president of the evangelical Christian school in 2020 in the wake of a series of scandals involving his family, including allegations that his wife, Becki, had a years-long sexual relationship with a business associate.
Asked about the lawsuit, a Liberty spokesperson said the school prefers not to comment on active litigation but sent along a statement to provide context. The spokesperson argued Falwell Sr.’s name is “synonymous with Liberty University, and for decades has been used across campus, including on buildings such as the Jerry Falwell Museum and the Jerry Falwell Library.”
In addition, the spokesperson alleged the lawsuit is a response to a request made by Falwell Jr. for Liberty “to pay $7 million dollars for his permission to continue to use the name of Liberty’s founder for the next four years” and allow the former president to maintain “total editorial control of Liberty’s use of the name of Liberty’s founder.” The school, the spokesperson said, denied the request.
“Liberty University is confident it will ultimately prevail in this case and the university will be able to maintain its use of the name of its founder,” the statement concluded.
This should be intetesting.
It will not fall well either way.
Lol what a monumental scumbag. At least the elder Jerry knew how to down his Nyquil Baptist wine quick and keep it quiet. That’s how you run a grift operation right.
Can Falwell Jr. be deported?
Falwell, Jr., is great example of the problem of leadership dynasties in the church.
“pay $7 million dollars for his permission to continue to use the name of Liberty’s founder”
Falwell, Sr. was Liberty’s founder, a fact that Falwell Jr admits. Since when do you need to pay royalties to state a fact?
Can Falwell Jr. be deported?
Jerry Falwell Jr was removed from Liberty University for philandering and extravagance. The deal involved a severance package of $10 million. Since then, the two parties have been in and out of court for various reasons. This reason is just the latest.
Jerry Falwell Jr claims he inherited the image and likeness of his late father, and seeks compensation from Liberty University for the commercial use thereof. This is a pretty well-established right, although the specifics vary from state to state. It seems to me all Liberty University has to do is forswear the commercial use of the name or image of Falwell Sr. Maybe sandblasting Falwell’s name from all buildings and removing the monument to him, just to be sure.
Jerry Falwell Jr was a pretty effective corporate lawyer before taking his position with Liberty University, and never claimed to be a Christian leader. With his departure, he claimed to be free from all the claptrap associated with Christianity. He was free to do the perverted things he had come to enjoy. Throw him back into the shark tank.
The decision will be jerry-rigged.
Well, guess it WAS all about the money.
“allegations that his wife, Becki, had a years-long sexual relationship with a business associate.”
I thought it was the pool boy.
Any religious organization that takes the tax exemption is pretending to serve two masters but are really only in it for the money.
I bow to your superiority.
Way back when I was a newbie Christian, I would watch Falwell Sr. on the tube in the late 70s. At the end of every sermon he had an altar call as Baptists do, and he would lead the altarists in the sinner's prayer: "God be merciful to me a sinner, and save me for Christ's sake." Unfortunately, he would always elude "for Christ's sake" so that it sounded like an inelegant command rather than a plea to the blood. Back then I would have to have written him a postal letter to express my concern, and I never did it.
This is what happens when you reject Torah. Christianity will not endure. Repent. Return to Torah and Live.
JF Sr. was one of the few who wasn’t a grifter, as far as I know.
“Falwell, Jr., is great example of the problem of leadership dynasties in the church.”
Junior wasn’t a minister or church leader. Just an attorney who did a great job managing the school ... until he wasn’t.
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