Chubby Checker Sues Over Sound-Alike In Eyeglasses Commercial

07/07/2003 6:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
LAUNCH Radio Networks

(7/7/03, 6 p.m. ET) -- Chubby Checker has filed a lawsuit in Florida against Aspex Eyewear Inc., claiming the company used a sound-alike singer performing his hit "Let's Twist Again" in TV commercials for its bendable eyeglass frames.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that hometown hero Checker--who was born Ernest Evans in South Philly--is suing Aspex for misappropriation of voice and false endorsement. An attorney for the company said it had secured the proper rights to use the song and that Checker has no case.

Checker has another lawsuit in progress. The singer has charged Portland, Oregon, clothing manufacturer Norm Thompson Outfitters with trademark infringement for selling button-up shirts called "Chubby Checkers" without the singer's permission. Though Checker called the company himself and received a letter from its president saying the shirt name would be changed, Thompson Outfitters claimed it was too late to change it for its early winter catalog.

For more news at LAUNCH, click here.