CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Six members of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears football team who participated in the iconic Super Bowl Shuffle music video, filed suit today in Chicago alleging, among other things, that they own their identities, images, names, likenesses, voices and performances from the Super Bowl Shuffle. The lawsuit was filed in Cook County, Ill. Circuit Court on behalf of plaintiffs Richard Dent, Steve Fuller, Willie Gault, Jim McMahon, Mike Richardson, and Otis Wilson v. Renaissance Marketing Corporation, et al.
“The lawsuit provides that an important, and stated, objective of the Super Bowl Shuffle when it was produced in 1985, was to give back to Chicago's neediest families,” said Walid J. Tamari, attorney and partner of Chicago-based civil litigation firm Tamari Law Group, LLC, who represents the plaintiffs in this matter. “As the complaint states, among other things, the plaintiffs seek that a constructive trust be established for charitable purposes that they select in order to continue the Super Bowl Shuffle’s charitable objective.”
The Super Bowl Shuffle was produced to reflect the team’s immense success and popularity at the time, and to raise money for Chicago’s neediest families. It was released in September 1985, three months prior to the Chicago Bears’ victory in Super Bowl XX. The video and song became a mainstream phenomenon, selling more than a half-million copies and reaching No. 41 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, making the Bears the only American professional team in any sport with a hit single. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1985 for best rhythm and blues performance by a duo or group.
The case is Richard Dent, et al. v. Renaissance Marketing Corporation, et al.
As this litigation is currently pending, the plaintiffs are not available for comment.