Gone In 60 Seconds Battle Goes To Court

The widow of the original GONE IN 60 SECONDS director/star H.B. HALICKI has been granted her day in court with a legendary car collector over knock-off versions of a famous movie motor.

Denice Halicki claims she owns various copyrights connected to the famous Gone In 60 Seconds 1967 Ford Mustang, dubbed Eleanor, and car collector Carroll Shelby is violating those rights by producing lookalikes for sale and show. The dispute between Halicki and Shelby hit the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California on Monday (04Aug08).

Halicki alleges Shelby and his co-defendants knowingly and deliberately sought to capitalise on and exploit Eleanor's fame from the Nicolas Cage's movie remake, even though the defendants had no association with the creation or development of the movie or Eleanor.

The dispute has dragged on for over four years and the Ninth Circuit hearing brings Halicki closer to being able to seek redress for the defendants' allegedly unauthorised use of Halicki's trademarks and copyrights.

If the authorities rule in Halicki's favour, she stands to make millions from knock-off merchandise.