Update--Woody Take the Money & Run

American Apparel, Inc., has agreed to pay Woody Allen $5 million rather than proceed to trial in federal district court on the director's lawsuit against the clothing manufacturer for the alleged misappropriation of his image for billboard and Internet advertising (see theunrulyoflaw.blogspot.com post May 18, 2009). Allen told reporters outside the courthouse that he believes the $5 million settlement is the largest on record for claims arising under New York's Civil Rights Law. To put the settlement in context, the total gross for Allen's film, "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995) was approximately $6.4 million, according to www.boxofficemojo.com.