Tom Cruise May Face Legal Action Over Hitler Globe

Today's NY Post reports Tom Cruise and "Valkyrie" may face legal action over their use of a likeness Hitler's globe in the film:

Cruise, who fights the Nazis in "Valkyrie," might now have to battle a San Francisco advertising executive who says the couch-jumping star used a replica of one of Adolf Hitler's prized possessions in the movie without permission.

Robert Pritikin - who penned such jingles as "Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco Treat" and has a $40 million art collection - owns several Hitler artifacts, including the Fuehrer's notorious globe, which he used to plan U-boat attacks from his compound in the Bavarian Alps.

The globe was replicated and prominently featured in "Valkyrie," the thriller about a real-life plot to assassinate Hitler - and that has Pritikin mulling legal action. In 2007, Pritikin paid $100,000 for the globe and had its likeness copyrighted to keep it from being used in propaganda by sick neo-Nazi groups.

When Pritikin bought the globe, he paid 5 times it's pre-auction estimate. It was sold by an American soldier named John Barsamian who had found it in the ruins of Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" in the Bavarian Alps in May 1945.

Barsamian, below, is photographed with the globe by the AP shortly before the auction in October 2007.

Comments

[StopThePress]

"When Pritikin bought the globe, he paid 5 times it's pre-auction estimate."

Sounds like someone is just trying to get his money back after he voluntarily paid more than what it was worth at the time. What dou.che bag nozzle!

[CC1]

Beyond stupid. Sadly, filing frivolous lawsuits seems to be an American affliction. What's next? Suing ants for ruining your picnic?

[StopThePress]

LOL!

[Feanor]

I have a copyright on Abraham Lincoln's beard. Anyone who grows a beard that looks like Lincoln's has to pay me a fee.

[StopThePress]

That is hilarious

[Goliadkin]

You're laughing through your beard?

[ITankResevoir]

Unless the globe presents a danger of injury or violates some code, a round object the size of a globe with only a similarity to something in most libraries is like accusing someone that is platinum blonde for stealing memorabilia from Marilyn Monroe. This is frivolous and you know it.

[DrHopeful]

The globe doesn't look unique. If I bought Ted Williams' baseball cap, I could sue anyone wearing a likeness of it in a film? Perhaps the Bundesrepublik should sue Pitikin.

[popartusa]

give us a break...so you paid too much for the thing...so get over it.....wri­te another jingle or something!

[Bugweed]

So, we're going to witness a court fight about a WWII item that was pilfered from the authorities in Germany by an Army Sgt practicing the highly refined art of looting. Interesting question, as a historic relic, does it not belong to the German people, regardless of the infamous pedigree? If ancient historic items can repatriated to their homelands why is this globe any different? Isn't it old enough? Is such repatriated items only restricted to historic eras we like or admire, eras we find fashionable? Personally, I think all relics of the nazi era should be destroyed and only a limited amount be set aside for public viewing in controlled situations. No one should have relics of this monster.

[1201SLD]

Was this globe mass-produced? Is there no other example of it extant? Has Mr. Pritikin nothing better to do?

[singlemalt1]

This is like the answer to the question,"Why do you rob banks?" A: "Because that's where the money is"

When movies are produced the production staff uses research companies to get clearance for pieces of art, individual names, place names etc. These clearances are required by the insurance company insuring the production. Maybe they missed this item or didn't get a negative report on it. In any case, to think a generic item such as a globe of the earth would be copyrighted is, to me, ridiculous. However, I doubt this guy would be suing if Tom Cruise wasn't obscenely wealthy.

[cobobs]

Perhaps Cruise's team purchased it from a German antique store. There could have been more than one of those globes manufactured.

[swiss-ski]

This is a disgrace! How dare Cruise use a replica of Hitlers globe. I think cruise should be put on trial
for imitating a German ww2 officer also.

[ilovedessert]

WHAT A DISGRACE! TOM CRUISE IMITATES A TALENTLESS ACTOR...OO­PS THAT IS, TOM IS A TALENTLESS HACK!

[bermanator]

I wouldn't really want to admit I was profiteering from Adolf Hitler, but whatever floats your boat Mr. Pritkin.

[trudem2]

Oh leave Tom alone.....­jeesh!!!!

[amg503]

In the movie, the globe was about 5 feet in diameter, much bigger than this one. But regardless, since when are items like this under copyrighted? Maybe the company that made it could sue, for using their "design", but all this guy did was purchase one.

And , if I were this guy, I would feel very uncomfortable saying to a judge: They used Der Fuhrer's globe, and I don't like it.

[StopThePress]

Exactly!!! I doubt any judge would even grant this guy a day in court. This is ridiculous.

[WriterGuy]

This globe pictured above is also about five feet in diameter. According to his lawyers, Mr. Pritikin is actually about 20 feet tall.

[shedances]

This is a decent film topic, esp. for history buffs ... but I can't stand the thought of Tom Cruise in the lead role. And because of that, I wouldn't go see it. I also think the current Hitler globe controversy is really unnecessary.

[sloreader]

Uh, this suit wouldn't have anything to do with drumming up publicity for the movie would it?