Helen Kane Loses Betty Boop

Cartoon character Betty Boop began as a clear visual and vocal copy of singer and actress Helen Kane, who was known as the “Boop Boop a Doop girl.” Kane responded by suing over theft of her image, arguing that the character had lifted her persona. In court, however, evidence showed that Kane herself had copied parts of her act from a Harlem jazz singer named Baby Esther. That revelation undercut her claim and helped sink the lawsuit.

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