Kim Kardashian sues Old Navy, protecting the rights to her appearance

By Lacey Ackerman

Old Navy, owned by Gap, Inc., was in for a shock when Kim Kardashian decided to file a lawsuit against the company for using a model who has a striking resemblance to the reality TV star. Not only did this trick viewers into believing it was Kim just by the model's appearance, but the commercial also portrays the lifestyle of a celebrity.

Whether this was intentional or just a simple coincidence, the model chosen is not Kim Kardashian, but a singer trying to make it in Hollywood. Melissa Molinaro claims Old Navy's intentions were to hire a "performer with an experimental vocal style" and not look-a-like.

Yes, there would be a problem if the frame which displays Melissa on a tabloid magazine read "Kim Kardashian's New Style" without permission, however, this is not the case. It's interesting to see how a celebrity's appearance has become it's own brand. And this type of "celebrity rights" case is not the first:

1. Lindsay Lohan filed a lawsuit against E-Trade because they referred to a baby named Lindsay as a "milkaholic".
2. Paris Hilton believed the catchphrase, "That's Hot" to be hers only. She settled a lawsuit against Hallmark for utilizing it in a card.
3. Bette Midler sued Ford for hiring a "sound-a-like" for one of their commercials, when Ford already obtained the rights to use the song from the copyright holder.