Actor Woody Allen has filed a lawsuit against clothing company American Apparel for $10 million in 2007, claiming that the company used an image of Allen dressed as a rabbi in his film Annie Hall for a billboard campaign illegally and without his permission.

Lawyers for American Apparel have responded in April of 2009 asking Allen to prove his reputation was tarnished, and brought up the alleged abuse between Allen's once step-daughter and now wife, Soon-Yi Previn, trying to prove his reputation was already damaged before the billboards went up.New York Post: Chopping Woody (April 9, 2009)

The text on the billboard next to the image is in Yiddish and translates to "the Holly Rebbe." According to the lawsuit, "Allen was not contacted, nor did he in any way give his consent to the use of his image and likeness, and he was not in any way compensated for the same, either prior to the infringement or thereafter." Allen said that he does not endorse commercial products or services from the U.S. therefore the displays are "especially egregious and damaging." The billboards in Hollywood and New York were displayed in May 2007.