Owen Hart's Widow Suing WWE for Using Pro Wrestler's Image

The widow of professional wrestler Owen Hart is upset about a new DVD called "Hart and Soul Anthology" and has filed an intellectual property lawsuit.

Owen Hart was killed in a live televised stunt in 1999. His widow, Martha Hart, is suing World Wrestling Entertainment and its former CEO, Linda McMahon, who happens to be the Republican nominee for Senate in the state of Connecticut, the Associated Press reports.

Martha Hart says that the image of her late husband has been used without her knowledge and permission for years.

As a result, she has filed an intellectual property lawsuit against Linda McMahon and her husband, Vince, the current chairman of the World Wrestling Entertainment.

The company's attorney argued it has the right to use copyrighted material featuring Owen Hart.

Martha Hart is the personal representative of her late husband's estate and is seeking any profits from his appearances in the videos and other materials that would be due under his contract with the WWE.

However, it will be left up to the court to decide whether the estate is owed any money.

In general, intellectual property describes a wide variety of property created by musicians, authors, artists and inventors.

The federal law of intellectual property encompasses the areas of copyright, patent and trademark laws.

Intellectual property principles are designed to encourage the development of art, science and information by granting property rights to creative and inventive people. These rights allow artists and inventors to protect themselves from infringement, or the unauthorized use and misuse of their creations.

• Wrestler's widow suing McMahon (wtnh.com)
• Intellectual Property (FindLaw's LawBrain)
• Intellectual Property Law (FindLaw)