by Structured Settlement Watchdog
A factoring company distributed an email on May 11, 2017 that included the likeness of Warren Buffett and a link to a video of the question that came up last Saturday, May 6, in respect of Berkshire Hathaway's leading activity in the structured settlement marketplace. The video was hosted on the factoring company's YouTube account. The teaser on the link said "Warren Buffett Discusses Structured Settlement Purchases". In fact, Mr. Buffett was discussing the SALE of annuities to support new structured settlements, as I reported here
Warren Buffett is a Nebraska resident and like many states, Nebraska recognizes a "right to likeness" that prohibits the unauthorized use of a person's name or likeness for commercial purposes without permission. Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska ("BHLN") responded the same day with a request to YouTube to take down the unauthorized copy of the clip. It also sent a "cease and desist" letter, to which the factoring company immediately complied.
While I wouldn't characterize the factoring company in question as a brandjacker, it does speak to a widespread bad business practice that for the last 6 or 7 years the structured settlement factoring industry has been rife with brand jackers. In prior posts I have highlighted the practices of companies like the Mt Airy Faker's now defunct Sovereign Funding Group, Genex Capital, via structuredsettlement-quotes(dot)com, and the possible association, of at least its Chief Operating Officer with Freedom 1st Funding in 2012, and JRR Funding, through Einstein Structured Settlements and scores of paid review lead generation sites.
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