A company that owns the rights to James Dean's iconic image is suing Twitter for allowing accounts to use his name.
Attorneys for the online social network want the lawsuit filed in Hamilton County by James Dean Inc. to be moved to federal court in Indianapolis. James Dean Inc. is represented by Indianapolis-based CMG Worldwide.
The request was filed Friday, one day before Dean would have turned 83, ABC News reported. The 24-year-old Fairmount native died in a 1955 car crash.
CMG Worldwide said the Twitter handle @JamesDean has more than 8,000 followers and has sent more than 2,200 tweets. CMG did not sanction the account and wants Twitter to shut it down, it said.
Among Twitter accounts using "James Dean" in their handles and remaining online Monday was one with an image of the actor and apparently based in Turkey.
Phone messages were left Monday for attorneys for both sides.
Dean starred in the movies "Rebel Without a Cause," ''East of Eden" and "Giant."
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.