Community Chat

[violann]

A beautiful and iconic image that has little if anything to do with the pancake recipe. We do know, I hope that equitable compensation and representation was not available historically to those who were considered members of "minority groups" in the not too distant past, don't we?

[Moonchilde]

On 11/7/2014 kachina624 said: How does anyone know this woman wasn't fairly paid for the use of her image? Pancake recipes are dime a dozen and there certainly is nothing distinctive about Aunt Jemima's. Just average pancakes.

Yes, this. The likeness on the packaging might be an issue to sue over - we don't know the details. But the pancake recipe part sounds like a joke. There is nothing unique or especially delicious about Aunt Jemima pancakes, and I'm sure the woman's "original recipe" wasn't "pancakes in a box." Not to mention, due to many factors, over the years the company has undoubtedly changed the ingredients.

It's quite routine in lawsuits to sue for amounts much, much higher than the plaintiffs actually expect to get. They are guided in that by their attorneys - who as we all know would get a huge chunk of any monies awarded. I know it's always said that there are attorneys who will file suit on just about anything, but the reality is they won't unless they see $$$ in their future for doing so. They aren't likely to be paid much up front by the heirs, so they must think filing suit is worth it or they wouldn't take the case. Publicity is only worth so much.

[scotttie]

On 11/8/2014 Cakers1 said:

60 years is a long time but 60 years and back many people were paid pennies for rights to many things, including board games.

Let's not forget that a lawsuit initiated by an AA family would be scoffed at even more back then.

If a payment was agreed upon back then there is nothing to recover, imo.

And yes, a recipe for a basic pancake is pretty much universal.

I would be interested in seeing the basis for their suit.

And was the pancake recipe universal BACK THEN? It's universal now but is that because she came up with it?

[Moonchilde]

On 11/8/2014 anisa said:

On 11/7/2014 cody said:

I suppose I would need more history on the contract in place to use her likeness on their products. I am a little suspicious as to why this is just coming up after 60 years.

We have no idea how long this has been in the works or when her generations started questioning the lack of compensation.

That's my thought. It's possible that the search for proof has gone on for several generations and it's only now that evidence/proof has come to light that will make a good case.

[Cakers1]

/

[scotttie]

On 11/8/2014 Cakers1 said:

On 11/8/2014 scotttie said:

On 11/8/2014 Cakers1 said:

60 years is a long time but 60 years and back many people were paid pennies for rights to many things, including board games.

Let's not forget that a lawsuit initiated by an AA family would be scoffed at even more back then.

If a payment was agreed upon back then there is nothing to recover, imo.

And yes, a recipe for a basic pancake is pretty much universal.

I would be interested in seeing the basis for their suit.

And was the pancake recipe universal BACK THEN? It's universal now but is that because she came up with it?

scottie: No, pancakes in all forms have been around since forever. The pancake mix in the Aunt Jemima box is just a convenience, not an original.

But was hers the first?

[stevieb]

I'm guessing they paid something up front and that royalties weren't part of the deal. I mean really, why should they be...? The two billion figure just strikes me as ludicrous and greedy... and my guess is that if this goes anywhere at all, it'll be settled out of court for substantially less, as it should be, assuming it isn't thrown out altogether.

[Moonchilde]

On 11/8/2014 scotttie said:

On 11/8/2014 Cakers1 said:

On 11/8/2014 scotttie said:

On 11/8/2014 Cakers1 said:

60 years is a long time but 60 years and back many people were paid pennies for rights to many things, including board games.

Let's not forget that a lawsuit initiated by an AA family would be scoffed at even more back then.

If a payment was agreed upon back then there is nothing to recover, imo.

And yes, a recipe for a basic pancake is pretty much universal.

I would be interested in seeing the basis for their suit.

And was the pancake recipe universal BACK THEN? It's universal now but is that because she came up with it?

scottie: No, pancakes in all forms have been around since forever. The pancake mix in the Aunt Jemima box is just a convenience, not an original.

But was hers the first?

It never was "hers." http://blackgirlsguidetoweightloss.com/conscious-consumerism/a-lesson-in-marketing-magic-the-history...

[Cakers1]

/

[scotttie]

On 11/8/2014 Cakers1 said:

On 11/8/2014 scotttie said:

On 11/8/2014 Cakers1 said:

On 11/8/2014 scotttie said:

On 11/8/2014 Cakers1 said:

60 years is a long time but 60 years and back many people were paid pennies for rights to many things, including board games.

Let's not forget that a lawsuit initiated by an AA family would be scoffed at even more back then.

If a payment was agreed upon back then there is nothing to recover, imo.

And yes, a recipe for a basic pancake is pretty much universal.

I would be interested in seeing the basis for their suit.

And was the pancake recipe universal BACK THEN? It's universal now but is that because she came up with it?

scottie: No, pancakes in all forms have been around since forever. The pancake mix in the Aunt Jemima box is just a convenience, not an original.

But was hers the first?

scottie: The first what - pancake??? I'm not following.

First pre-packaged pancake mix.

It doesn't matter. First not first. I can't really discuss the issue until we see the basis for their suit.