Ear Hustle

Donna Douglas And Mattel Settle Lawsuit Over “Elly May” Barbie Doll

Wow how ironic this is!! EarHustle411 is just coming across this piece of news about Donna Douglas an actress mostly known for her character as Elly May Clampett on the Beverly Hillbillies.  It’s so unfortunate that she has gone on to glory as reported on January 2, 2015 and even more disheartening that it took so long for Mattel to settle the case, she is no longer able to enjoy her victory.  Ms Douglas sued the Mattel back in 2011 for making the doll in her likeness without her permission.

May Donna Douglas finally rest!!

Check out the article below:

The actress who played tomboy Elly May Clampett on 1960s television show ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ has settled her lawsuit against Mattel over a Barbie doll based on her character.

Actress Donna Douglas, now 78, sued the toy company in May as well as the consumer products division of CBS Corp. seeking a minimum of $75,000 in damages.

Her complaint said Mattel was ‘engaging in the unauthorized use’ of her name, likeness and image to promote and sell the ‘Elly May’ Barbie.

Promotion: The former-Beverly Hillbillies actress Donna Douglas, 78, settled her lawsuit with Mattel and CBS Corp. over a doll resembling a character she played used for promotion

Attorneys in the case filed court papers on Tuesday in Louisiana indicating the lawsuit had been settled.

Price: Ms Douglas sought a minimum of $75,000 in damages for the doll resembling the character of Elly May Clampett she played

The financial terms were not revealed.

The acting role Ms Douglas is most known for is her role in ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ which ran from 1962 to 1971 on CBS television.

She played the beautiful but naive Elly May in the show about a family that struck oil and ditched their backwoods home for life in California.

During a break in the show she also starred alongside Elvis Presley in the 1966 motion picture Frankie and Johnny but which did not lead to further movie work outside of the Beverly Hillbillies.

Philip Shaheen, an attorney for Ms Douglas who now lives in her home state of Louisiana, said he could not comment on the details of the settlement.

Other stories: Ms Douglas has most recently published a children's book titled Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm, released this past November which brands her Elly May character on its cover

Other stories: Ms Douglas has most recently published a children’s book titled Miss Donna’s Mulberry Acres Farm, released this past November which brands her Elly May character on its cover

California-based Mattel could not be reached for comment either.

CBS Consumer Products had argued in court papers that it had exclusive rights to use the Elly May character, and did not need Ms Douglas’ permission before entering into an agreement with Mattel for the doll.

Married and divorced twice, Ms Douglas has led a quieter life, most recently releasing a children’s book in November of this year titled, ‘Miss Donna’s Mulberry Acres Farm.’

Source: Daily Mail

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