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Cruise May Have to Buy Hitler's Globe

Owner of copyrighted artifact may sue

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2009 11:30 AM CST

(Newser) – Valkyrie star Tom Cruise could be a “real-life hero”—by putting up the cash to purchase Adolf Hitler’s globe before United Artists is sued over it, the New York Post reports. The globe, a replica of which was featured prominently in Valkyrie, is owned by San Francisco ad exec Bob Pritkin. He copyrighted the artifact’s likeness so it wouldn't be used by neo-Nazi groups and is threatening to sue after seeing the movie.

Investigators for Pritkin, penner of such catchy jingles as “Rice-a-Roni,” acknowledge the mishap was likely an oversight. They’re still hoping Cruise will pony up, though: “I think it would be a wonderful gesture of good will on Tom Cruise's part to purchase the globe along with all of the other Hitler artifacts owned by Mr. Pritikin and donate them to the Wiesenthal Center,” one investigator said.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this image released by MGM, Tom Cruise portrays Claus von Stauffenberg in "Valkyrie." (AP Photo/MGM, Frank Connor)

This image originally provided by Germany's Babelsberg Studio shows Tom Cruise in the role of failed Hitler assassin Col. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg during filming of the movie "Valkyrie." (AP Photo)

A globe that once belonged to Adolf Hitler is shown on display at Greg Martin Auctions in San Francisco, Nov. 13, 2007. The globe sold for $100,000 to San Francisco entrepreneur Bob Pritikin. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

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We're confident this will all be quickly resolved out of court. It would be a hell of a way for Tom Cruise to save the day for United Artists and be a real-life hero. - Dan Hanks, investigator for Bob Pritkin

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Cruise May Have to Buy Hitler's Globe