Last modified on Wed 13 Jan 2021 23.37 EST
Jimi Hendrix’s brother and niece have been found in contempt of court, after they violated a ruling that forbids them from using the Hendrix name commercially.
The rights to Hendrix’s music, name and likeness are held by two connected companies, Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix, created by the musician’s father Al Hendrix in 1995. Since his death in 2002, the companies have been run by Al’s adopted daughter Janie Jinka.
The current dispute began in 2017, when the musician’s brother Leon Hendrix was sued for using the Hendrix name on products “which include cannabis, edibles, food, wine, alcohol, ‘medicines,’ and electronic products”. An order was made against him for $402,018; and an injunction was taken out against him preventing him from further use of “the name ‘Jimi Hendrix’, the name ‘Jimi’, the name ‘Hendrix’, in any configuration … or any image, likeness or signature of Jimi Hendrix”.