Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410280015
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: HOUSTON CHRONICLE
DATELINE: PEARLAND, TEXAS LENGTH: Short
A Hollywood producer and Daphne Hereford have landed in each other's doghouse.
Hereford, of the Houston suburb of Pearland, owns a descendant of the 1950s TV star Rin Tin Tin IV. Herbert B. Leonard produced the series that starred the dog and owns the films of those episodes.
Both claim exclusive rights to the Rin Tin Tin name. It appears the dispute is heading for a long dogfight in a California federal court.
Hereford lives in a small house packed with memorabilia such as movie posters, statuettes and old tin cans bearing the popular canine star's picture.
``I have here a Rin Tin Tin museum,'' she said as Bubba, a 4-year-old, 110-pound German shepherd dog, sat by her side.
Bubba is a seventh-generation descendent of Rin Tin Tin IV, the dog that starred in ``The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.''
Hereford, 44, runs a dog-breeding business called Rin Tin Tin German Shepherds as well as a Rin Tin Tin fan club. She has used the name since 1977, and in 1984, incorporated her business under the name.
Leonard is a big fan of the heroic dog, too.
He filed a lawsuit against Hereford in federal court in April, alleging that he has full rights to the Rin Tin Tin name and that Hereford is using it without authorization.
by CNB