Yoko Ono has taken up yet another cause in the name of her late hubby, John Lennon. The former musical muse has filed a lawsuit against Orlando, Fla.-based heavy-metal singer-slash-songwriter Lennon Murphy for naming her band after herself. As in Lennon. Ono, according to TMZ, alleges the use of Lennon is a "tarnishment" of the late Beatle’s name and is claiming Murphy "fraudulently" registered the name as a trademark. Yoko also claims Murphy is intentionally exploiting her murdered husband's name although Oennon is Murphy's legal birth name. She is demanding that the rocker's trademar be cancelled. But in a MySpace blog titled “Getting Sued by Yoko," Lennon lashes out at the aging widow saying that Yoko and her lawyer were approached back in 2000 about using the name for her debut CD on Arista Records and "made no objections at that time, nor did they for the next 8 years." ..as Denis Leary so aptly put it, "We live in a country where John Lennon takes eight bullets, Yoko Ono is walking right beside him and not one hits her. Explain that to me!
FastRMacR says
Explains why I disregard Denis Leary.
Looks like Arista (defunct..hmmm) is at fault, really. If she just would keep the "Lennon Murphy" designation I don't think this would be a problem. Using 'Lennon' exclusively ... well, I'm sure someone controlling the estate would say something.
wdog says
Fundamentally, if I wish to use my own name to sell myself, I think I should get virtually carte blanche rights to do so, unless I am somehow confusing the public to draw an association between myself and another person with the same or similar name.. such is the basic nature of intellectual property rights.. and I feel quite confident that no right thinking person is going to confuse a hard rock, female lead, band called, "Lennon" with John Lennon.
More importantly.. it would be one thing for John Lennon to make that claim - it would be a wholly other thing for a hanger-on-wanna-be to make that claim.
FastRMacR says
OK .. I just get tired of folks dissin Yoko .. proves they never heard to any of the music or lyrics (and they disrespect John). I do not; however, agree with the way she is currently approaching this younger artist. In fact, that's exactly what she should do ... without lawyers.
Tis a tough one for me, wdog. I understand both sides (I really do). If anything I appreciate you prompting me to Lennon's site and the subsequent myspaces of all the people involved here. She was named after John .. what can you say. I personally haven't heard her music, sorry (heh..you posted john lennon mog). I actually would like to hear her music now..like you to me here...she's now got my publicity though that name. ;-) Be atles!
(sorry wdog - postin that leary quotation in relation to this song...ouch)
he wasn't beside her at the moment.....
wdog says
..alright, I take your point re Leary.. I guess like many others, I just can't bring myself to forgive her for contributing to the Beatles breakup before I had a chance to see them.. some hatchets are hard to bury :)
Yoko Ono has taken up yet another cause in the name of her late hubby, John Lennon. The former musical muse has filed a lawsuit against Orlando, Fla.-based heavy-metal singer-slash-songwriter Lennon Murphy for naming her band after herself. As in Lennon. Ono, according to TMZ, alleges the use of Lennon is a "tarnishment" of the late Beatle’s name and is claiming Murphy "fraudulently" registered the name as a trademark. Yoko also claims Murphy is intentionally exploiting her murdered husband's name although Oennon is Murphy's legal birth name. She is demanding that the rocker's trademar be cancelled. But in a MySpace blog titled “Getting Sued by Yoko," Lennon lashes out at the aging widow saying that Yoko and her lawyer were approached back in 2000 about using the name for her debut CD on Arista Records and "made no objections at that time, nor did they for the next 8 years." ..as Denis Leary so aptly put it, "We live in a country where John Lennon takes eight bullets, Yoko Ono is walking right beside him and not one hits her. Explain that to me!
Locating MOG account...
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