Academy sues over Oscars gift bags

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has had enough with the “Oscar gift bags” this year and has filed a lawsuit against a marketing company that might have taken it too far.

On Feb. 16, the Academy filed a lawsuit against Lash Fray and his marketing company Distinctive Assets in California federal court, Variety reports.

Distinctive Assets has been getting worldwide media attention for the gift bags that are worth thousands of dollars and only offered to Oscar nominees. This year, their gift bag was worth $250,000, notes The Telegraph, including weird products like a sex toy called Nuelle Fiera Arouser for Her, a Vampire Breast Lift and even trips to Israel and Japan.

The Academy has stressed for years that it does not endorse these gift bags and even forced Distinctive Assets to make that clear on the bags. However, since the company did the same thing this year, as if nothing changed last year, the Academy was forced to file a lawsuit.

It appears that the sex toy, the breast lift and marijuana vaporizer really ticked the Academy off. The Academy noted in its complaint that the media has focused on “the less-than-wholesome nature of some of the products contained in the bags,” which may lead to confusion over whether the Academy approves of them or not.

According to Reuters, the Academy is asking that Fray be stopped from using Academy trademarks and is seeking damages and legal fees.

Fray and his company have not commented on the lawsuit.

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