Buzz Aldrin Sues Over Trading Card's Moon Image

He accuses Topps of unfairly profiting from his historic walk
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 29, 2010 4:58 PM CST
Buzz Aldrin Sues Over Trading Card's Moon Image
This NASA handout picture taken on July 20, 1969, shows Buzz Aldrin's boot print on the Moon.   (NASA)

Buzz Aldrin doesn't mess around with his image as a moon-walker. The second man to set foot up there is suing Topps over its "American Heroes" series of trading cards, which features an image of the big moment without permission, reports the Los Angeles Times. The astronaut's lawyers helpfully reminded Topps that they've collected nearly $800,000 in settlements from companies that have tried similar things over the years.

The 80-year-old's attorney says he has carefully controlled "how his image in that photograph may be used with respect to commercial products." He's seeking unspecified damages from Topps, which argues that it's entitled to depict "historical events" under the First Amendment. (More Buzz Aldrin stories.)

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