The father of the late Tejano singer Selena is suing a car air freshener company for allegedly using his daughter's image on its products without his permission.
Abraham Quintanilla Jr.'s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against Fuchila Fresheners LLC seeks unspecified damages and an injunction preventing the company from using the singer's name and likeness in its products.
Fuchila Fresheners makes car air fresheners and stickers designed to appeal to Latinos, depictions of which are attached as exhibits to the lawsuit.
Quintanilla holds the property rights to Selena's name and likeness for commercial use, according to his court papers.
"Over the years, Quintanilla, by and through Selena's name, voice, signature, photograph and likeness, has selectively endorsed and continues to selectively endorse a variety of products and services, including clothing and fashion accessories," the suit states.
Quintanilla often receives substantial financial offers requesting permission to use his daughter's name, voice, signature, photograph, likeness and persona for licensing, endorsing, marketing and promoting products and services, and exercises "careful consideration" in weighing those offers, the suit says.
Quintanilla restricts such uses and licensing to products and services that are of "acceptably high quality" to him and for which compensation is commensurate, according to his court papers.
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The Fuchila products are advertised and promoted by the company through the use of Selena's name and with slogans associated with Selena, including the quote "Anything for Selenas," the suit states.
Quintanilla was not contacted by Fuchila for permission to use the Selena image, nor has he been paid by the company for doing so, the suit alleges.
