Penske Media's Golden Globes sue Golden Globe Foundation over brand use

A new chapter has opened in the contentious battle over ownership of the Golden Globes awards show as Penske Media's Golden Globes have taken legal action against the Golden Globe Foundation.

This lawsuit marks a further escalation in a dispute that began after the Golden Globes' separation from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group of non-American journalists who founded the event in 1943. The Golden Globes were acquired by Penske Media and Eldridge through their purchase of Dick Clark Productions, which also owns The Hollywood Reporter.

The lawsuit filed against the Golden Globe Foundation alleges that the nonprofit has continued to use the name of the awards show for commercial purposes beyond its intended charitable activities. According to court documents, this includes selling merchandise and hosting events featuring the brand.

Under a 2022 agreement, the Golden Globe Foundation was established as part of a deal between Penske Media's Golden Globes and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, allowing the latter to continue its philanthropic work while separating from the awards show.

The Golden Globes legal battle has taken a new turn with a recent salvo from Eldridge, one of the parties involved in the dispute. The company claims that the Golden Globe Foundation (GGF) is continuing to use the brand name without authorization, despite negotiations for a license having broken down earlier this year.

According to the complaint filed by Eldridge, the GGF's decision to elect Raffi Boghosian as its president was a key factor in the breakdown of negotiations. Boghosian allegedly directed the termination of former CEO Gregory Goeckner and the lawyer handling deal talks, signaling the foundation's intent to use the Golden Globe mark without permission.

The lawsuit also alleges that the GGF's expanded use of the Golden Globe name is part of a larger pattern of coordination between the nonprofit and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). This alleged cooperation has led to the HFPA including the GGF as a defendant in its settlement talks with Eldridge, which propose transferring charitable funds to the HFPA.

The proposed deal would see the GGF transfer its charitable funds to the HFPA, raising questions about the motivations behind this arrangement. According to the complaint, the inclusion of the GGF as a defendant was merely a pretext for facilitating this transfer and redirecting charitable funds to finance the HFPA's lawsuit against Eldridge.

Eldridge claims that the coordination between the GGF and the HFPA is further evidence that the nonprofit's use of the Golden Globe mark is not done in good faith, but rather as part of a concerted effort to trade on the goodwill of Eldridge's mark while acting against its interests. The lawsuit highlights the complex web of relationships and alliances involved in this high-stakes dispute.

The complaint filed by Eldridge on September 30 in California federal court provides a detailed account of the alleged wrongdoing, accusing the GGF and HFPA of engaging in a coordinated effort to undermine Eldridge's interests.

The latest development in the ongoing Golden Globes controversy has seen the HFPA accusing Penske Media of using its influence over key industry publications to orchestrate a boycott of the group's events.

Penske Media is alleged to have used its control over major Hollywood trade outlets to persuade major players across the film and television industries to refuse participation or broadcasting rights for the 2022 Golden Globes ceremony, ultimately leading to the sale of the awards show.