McQueen estate sues clothing line

Rex Features

Steve McQueen's estate has sued clothing company S.P.A. for using the actor's image on its "Steve McQueen Celebration" fashion line without permission, Reuters reports.

The estate has accused S.P.A. and parent company Belstaff of "willful and brazen unauthorised use of the name, image, signature and likeness". The McQueen heirs added that the fashion company damaged "the goodwill and value" of the actor's trademark.

According to the suit, a Belstaff representative contacted the McQueen estate in 2007 requesting permission to use the actor's image on their clothing line. After negotiations stalled, Belstaff began producing the McQueen line in August 2007 without a licence, the lawsuit states.

McQueen, dubbed the "King of Cool" due to his roles in films such as Bullitt and The Great Escape, died in 1980 at the age of 50.