NEWARK, N.J. >> The widow of maverick automaker John DeLorean alleges a Texas company has illegally received money from the “Back to the Future” movies that used his iconic car.
The car was featured in the 1985 movie and a 1989 sequel. DeLorean died in 2005.
Sally DeLorean claims Universal agreed in 1989 to pay her husband for use of the car’s image.
Her lawsuit filed in federal court in New Jersey on Monday alleges the Texas company claims it is owed the money and has received “a substantial payment.”
The Texas company is named DeLorean Motor Company but isn’t affiliated with the one DeLorean started.
Sally DeLorean settled a lawsuit in 2015 allowing it to use the DeLorean name, but she says contractual rights to benefit from the use in the film weren’t transferred.
Attorneys didn’t immediately return messages.
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