NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The estate of the late country music legend Johnny Cash has filed a lawsuit against The Coca-Cola Company accusing the soda manufacturer of “pirating Johnny Cash\u2019s voice in a nationwide advertising campaign to enrich itself\u2014without asking for permission or providing any compensation.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dig deeper:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the complaint, filed November 25, Coca-Cola\u2019s new campaign\u2014titled “Fan Work Is Thirsty Work”\u2014features a commercial called “Go the Distance.” The ad depicted fans enjoying Coca-Cola products accompanied by a male vocal track that the lawsuit claims sounds “remarkably like” Johnny Cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trust alleged that Coca-Cola\u2019s advertising agency commissioned an original song and hired a professional Johnny Cash tribute singer\u2014whose career centers on impersonating Cash\u2014to perform it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lawsuit contends his involvement was intended to make the ad sound as close as possible to Cash\u2019s real voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the clear association, the trust said Coca-Cola never sought a license to use Cash\u2019s voice or a sound-alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lawsuit alleges that Coca-Cola is continuing to broadcast the commercial and “exploit the Voice” without authorization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The filing accuses the company of knowingly infringing on Johnny Cash\u2019s right of publicity and misleading consumers for commercial gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trust is seeking $75,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnny Cash’s life and legacy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The backstory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cash was born in Kingsland, a tiny town about 60 miles south of Little Rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He died in 2003 at age 71.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His achievements include 90 million records sold worldwide spanning country, rock, blues, folk and gospel. He is among the few artists inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Information take from Live Now Fox:<\/p>\n\n\n\n