WSJ Law Blog: “Rocker Threatens To Sue“:
“Jon Bon Jovi — born John Bongiovi – has sent a cease-and-desist letter to beverage maker Mijovi. The New Jersey rocker apparently saw a Mijovi drink at a Red Bank cafe and thought it was too similar to his own name. He then enlisted his lawyer
Buck Naked Could Not Be Reached For Comment
WSJ.COM: “Adult-Film Names 101: Stay Away From Real Ones”
One of several porn star name generators.
Right Of Publicity For Athletes
Brian Socolow: “Protecting Your Brand – You!” (Article from OverTime Magazine discusses the right of publicity, especially with regard to athletes and endorsement and licensing deals, and stresses the need for athletes to monitor the authorized and unauthorized uses of their name and likeness.)
Are Britney’s Lawyers Crazy (Like Foxes)?
A Florida radio station ran billboards (pictured above) showing Britney Spears and one of the station’s DJs, suggesting that she and DJ were ‘nuts.’ Ms. Spears contested the use. The radio station is pulling the billboards. Unfortunately, the Smoking Gun has printed only one of Britney’s lawyers letters, not the one that contains ‘many legal
A Post-Mortem Right Cannot Be Created After Death
Sounds funny to say it that way but it makes sense, especially after you read this decision holding that the purported owners of the Marilyn Monroe persona, cannot enforce their rights in New York, because a post-mortem right of publicity did not exist at the time of Marilyn Monroe’s death, and the testator can
Not Necessarily Stoned, But Infringing
NME: ‘Hendrx Family Sues Vodka Brand“:
“The family of Jimi Hendrix have filed a lawsuit over the use of his name in association with a brand of vodka.
Seattle businessman Craig Dieffenbach is marketing the brand, called Hendrix Electric Vodka, which is packaged in a purple bottle and features Jimi Hendrix’ face and
Not The Story Of My Life, Part Two
Evel Knievel Sues Kanye West And AOL Over ‘Evel Kanyevel”
TheSmokingGun provides a copy of the complaint filed by Evel Knievel in the Middle District of Florida, alleging that musician Kanye West infringed Mr. Knievel’s rights in his name, likeness and jumpsuit (I’m serious about the jumpsuit), by portraying a character named EVEL KANYEVEL who attempts to leap a canyon in a rocket, in his
Tom Brady Sues Yahoo! Over Use Of Image
Tom Brady has sued Yahoo! over its use of his image (center, above) to promote Yahoo! Fantasy Football (a game which utilizes real players stats – see yesterday’s post re use of sports statistics). Copy of Brady v Yahoo complaint here via The Smoking Gun.
Who Owns Baseball Statistics?
Glenn Mitchell, head of litigation here, has written, Take Me Out [of] the Ball Game? U.S. District Court Rejects Proprietary Rights in Player Names and Statistics” regarding C.B.C. Distribution v. MLB, a recent decision on who owns baseball statistics, published in the November-December issue of INTA’s The Trademark Reporter.