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When the fighter jet engines thundered back to life in Top Gun: Maverick after a 36-year hiatus, fans worldwide eagerly prepared for a nostalgic journey back to the danger zone. However, for Barry Tubb, renowned for his portrayal of Lieutenant Junior Grade Henry ‘Wolfman’ Ruth in the original 1986 film Top Gun, the sequel’s release marked the onset of a legal dispute rather than a mere feeling of nostalgia.
Recently, Barry Tubb initiated legal action in the US District Court for the Central District of California on Wednesday, February 21, alleging the unauthorized use of his likeness in pivotal scenes of the 2022 movie.
Tubb argues that his depiction in the original film was utilized without his authorization, leading him to take legal action to rectify the situation. The focal point of this legal dispute revolves around a photograph from the original Top Gun showcasing the 61-year-old alongside other actors and U.S. Navy aviators.
The image holds personal significance for Tubb as it features him wearing items that are totally unrelated to his character in the movie. The actor’s lawsuit alleges that Paramount Pictures exploited his likeness for financial gain without seeing the need to seek his permission or provide the necessary compensation.
Tubb’s legal challenge comes after another similar copyright lawsuit faced by Paramount. In 2022, the family of Ehud Yonay, the author of the original article that inspired Top Gun, initiated legal actions against the production company for releasing the sequel without the legal right to do so.
The family, represented by Shosh Yonay and Yuval Yonay, the wife and son of the author, respectively, asserted that Paramount had been aware of their intentions to reclaim the right since 2018. The lawsuit also highlighted that the mother and son sent a cease-and-desist order to the company, demanding that the production company halt the release of Top Gun: Maverick, all to no avail.
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