News & Notes
Announcer's Son Sues NFL Over Use of Father's Voice
Friday, July 21, 2006; Page E02
The son of the man whose voice is synonymous with NFL Films has filed a lawsuit against the NFL in which he claims his father's voice was misused in promoting a video game. The deep baritone voice of legendary announcer John Facenda was part of the NFL Network program titled "The Making of Madden 2006" last year. The lawsuit alleges that the voice-over violated an agreement with the league.
John Facenda Jr. 's attorneys filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia on Monday against the league, NFL Films Inc. and NFL Properties LLC.
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The league is allowed to use Facenda's voice as long as it does not constitute the endorsement of a product or service, attorney Paul Lauricella said. But Facenda's voice opened the program and was used again in what Lauricella called a "30-minute commercial for the Madden [video] game."
Facenda, who died in 1984, was a prominent Philadelphia TV anchorman who also was the voice of NFL Films for two decades. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
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-- From News Services
