In an attempt to keep the trademark on her name, AVN Hall of Fame performer Jill Kelly filed suit against Penthouse Digital Media Productions in a federal bankruptcy court on Tuesday. A temporary restraining order hearing has been slated for Nov. 2.
In her suit, Kelly claims that she is still the rightful owner of websites (including JillKelly.com and JillKellystore.com), trade names and trademarks.
Penthouse Media Group obtained the assets of Jill Kelly Productions (JKP) in April in a two-hour auction in Bankruptcy Court in Woodland Hills. Kelly claims that the Court made no decision in reference to her name or websites.
The winning bid was $1,765,000. Penthouse outbid three other qualified buyers: Playboy Entertainment Group, New Frontier Media and XGen LLC, which is owned by Frank and Michael Kay, who were the initial buyers. The bidding started at $725,000.
The assets auctioned included, but were not limited to JKP’s entire adult library and related masters and other footage, accounts receivables, JK Distribution, Inc., and DVD and other inventory.
Jill Kelly Productions filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August of ’05. In the three months leading up to the action, the company lost its former CEO, president, three contract girls and its publicist, among others, and owed millions to secured and unsecured creditors.
Former JKP CEO Bob Friedland fled to New York, sources said, where he has not been heard from since. Former president Jill Kelly left the organization in June of ‘05, and then the company’s final three contract girls, Jenna Haze, Tyra and Nikki Benz, separately announced their departures, followed by publicist Scott Hoover.
