Bob Ross’ Company Sues Zumiez Over Tees of Artist Painting a Cat

The owner of late artist Bob Ross’ trademark and publicity rights sued clothing retailer Zumiez Inc. and streetwear brand Rip N Dip Inc. in Virginia federal court Monday for using his likeness without its permission.

Zumiez allegedly sells Rip N Dip t-shirts and air fresheners that unlawfully feature a drawing of Ross “in his signature permed afro and button-down shirt, painting a mountain landscape stylized to include a cat’s face on the face of the mountain,” according to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Ross came to fame on his long-running public ...