Lennon Murphy Sued By Yoko Ono for Name Use
photo courtesy of PR Photos/www.prphotos.comYoko Ono is reportedly suing a U.S. singer named Lennon Murphy for performing under the name Lennon. Although the singer has been performing under the name Lennon for eight years, she actually registered the name as a trademark in 2003 according to TMZ.
Lennon Murphy’s mother was a fan of John (the painter, the father who baked bread with his son, etc.) and named her after him. Apparently, Lennon Murphy contacted Yoko early on in her career about performing under the name Lennon, even though it is her legal name, but says that Yoko didn’t object at that time. However, Yoko’s now arguing that Murphy “fraudulently registered the name as a trademark which is considered a “tarnishment” towards her late husband’s name.
What’s also interesting is that Julian Lennon, John Lennon’s oldest son from his first marriage to Cynthia Lennon has reportedly posted a statement on his MySpace page stating that he doesn’t have a problem with the singer using his father’s name. Well, it’s his name too and he said:
“She has my full support.”
After reading Lennon Murphy’s heartfelt letter on Julian’s MySpace page, it actually brought me to tears. I feel so bad for her. It sounds like she genuinely never meant to cash in on John Lennon’s name and from the sounds of it, actually never made that much cash anyway. And even though John is probably the most famous Lennon, he wasn’t the only Lennon out there. I’m wondering if the reason Yoko is suing over the name now is because she had planned to market something else and this is preventing her from making more money.
3 babblicious comments:
This trademark attorney blog says Ono may lose: http://www.iptrademarkattorney.com/2008/02/trademark_lawsuit_yoko_ono_can.html
Dear Friends
A musician named Lennon Murphy is claiming that Yoko Ono has sued her and that Yoko is seeking to stop Lennon Murphy from performing under her name, Lennon Murphy. Both of these claims are untrue.
Several years ago, Lennon Murphy sought Yoko’s permission to do her performances under her name, Lennon Murphy. Yoko, of course, did not object to her request. Subsequently, without Yoko’s knowledge, Lennon Murphy filed an application in the United States trademark Office requesting the exclusive right to utilize the name “Lennon” for musical performances. Yoko’s attorneys asked Lennon Murphy’s attorneys and manager to withdraw her registration of exclusivity to the name LENNON for the trademark. Yoko also offered to cover all costs Lennon Murphy had incurred in filing for the trademark. But Lennon Murphy went ahead to register.
Yoko did not sue Lennon Murphy, but sought to stop her from getting the exclusive right to the name Lennon for performance purposes. For that, Yoko’s attorneys, simply notified the Trademark office that Yoko did not believe it was fair that Ms. Murphy be granted the exclusive right to the “Lennon” trademark in relation to musical and entertainment services. As you can see, this is a very important issue for Yoko and the Lennon family.
Yoko says: “I am really hurt if people thought that I told a young artist to not use her own name in her performances and had sought to sue her. I did no such thing. I hope this allegation will be cleared.”
Thank you for your kind attention,
Yoko
Yoko Ono is trying to make herself look good now. This trademark attorney has a copy of the lawsuit that Yoko filed against Lennon Murphy:
http://www.iptrademarkattorney.com/2008/02/trademark_lawsuit_yoko_ono_can.html