“Big Bang Theory” and part-time “Jeopardy!” Host Mayim Bialik has filed a lawsuit in a Florida federal court seeking damages for companies that he claims use his name and image to create the impression that he is endorsing his CBD products.
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In a lawsuit filed Thursday, Bialik, 46, is seeking compensation from 32 unnamed companies, many based in the Dominican Republic, France or India, the Miami Herald reported.
The 27-page request lists the companies’ IP addresses because they operate under false names, the newspaper reported. Under Law360, Bialik alleged that companies use the actress’ name on their websites to promote fake products such as “Mayim Bialik CBD Gummies” and “Mayim Bialik CBD Oil” to attract customer traffic to their CBD product sales pages. In his complaint, Bialik said that he has never given permission for his name to be used and that he has not been compensated for his use.
“Defendants misappropriate Bialik’s name, likeness and / or person by promoting, advertising and marketing, offering for sale and selling or selling unauthorized CBD products falsely suggesting that Bialik has endorsed, sponsors or you may be actively associated with these products. “
According to the complaint, Bialik, who obtained a doctorate. in neuroscience at UCLA, it is very particular about which products or companies you choose to endorse.
“The full purpose of the defendants’ illicit activities is to create the false impression that Bialik is affiliated with and endorses certain cannabidiol products (the ‘Unauthorized CBD Products’) that she does not,” the lawsuit states.
Bialik is seeking precautionary relief, benefits, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and litigation costs, Law360 reported.
In March, Bialik wrote a post on his Instagram account to address what he called clickbait advertising.
“There are a lot of fake things floating around the internet about a lot of public figures, but I want to address one about me that looks very authentic but is a hoax,” Bialik wrote. “I don’t sell CBD Gummies of any kind and I don’t plan to do it at any point in the future. I’ve tried to get rid of it to no avail. It’s not real.”
Bialik and his attorneys chose to file a lawsuit in a Florida court, the Herald reported. According to his lawsuit, the filing took place in Florida because “a substantial portion of the events or omissions are occurring in this district” and companies are illegally advertising and selling these “falsely endorsed products” in Florida.
Defendants could not be contacted immediately for comment, according to Law360.
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