Yoko Ono Clarifies Lennon Trademark Dispute
from the thanks dept
Earlier this week, we wrote about a dispute over the trademark on "Lennon" between Yoko Ono and the singer Lennon Murphy. As we said, while it did seem odd that Ono waited until the very last minute to protest the trademark, the really problematic part was Murphy applying for the trademark in the first place. Yoko Ono (or, more likely, a representative of Ono) contacted us today by email to clarify her position:"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.So there we have it. In retrospect, this actually looks like a rather lame publicity stunt by Lennon Murphy, first registering for a trademark on the name, and then complaining about Ono's request to the USPTO not to grant it.
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"
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Filed Under: lennon, trademarks, yoko ono
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Re:
Well, there are a fair number of lame trademark lawsuits too. I wouldn't say there's necessarily "less" of them. Some are quite ridiculous.
However, part of the reason is that trademark serves an extremely different purpose than copyright. Copyright's purpose is to create incentives for the creation of new content. Trademark, however, is really a consumer protection law -- to prevent confusion among consumers concerning what they're buying.
So, trademark really isn't about creating artificial scarcity, but about consumer protection.
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And kudos to Yoko for not being a bitch about the trademark thing. Glad to hear she (probalby against her attorney's advice knowing lawyers) only objected to the exclusivity. Which makes total sense. I mean come on. It's John freaking _Lennon_.
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>
I agree that it was a lame stunt by this Murphy person. Isn't Sean still recording? I know I saw one of them on TMZ the other day.
One would think John's sons (and anyone else with the name) have a legitimate use for it.
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The saddest part is that Lennon Murphy most likely was named for John and she blew the whole concept (peace and love) of his name.
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Fewer.
Didn't you learn anything in school?
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Re: Fewer.
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Grammar.
Didn't you learn anything in school?
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Yoko comes out the winner here.
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That being said, here is some free advise.
Delete that email you received from Yoko. If it stays in your system too long, components from your integrated office suite will break apart and separate forever, never to be reunited.
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I bet you wish you could post in red, don't you?
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Lennon name
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Re: Lennon name
Did you read the details? She's NOT trying to restrict anyone from using the name.
Her first name is Lennon and she has a right to use it.
Indeed. Yoko is not trying to stop her from using it. Just from trademarking it. If Lennon Murphy got the trademark then she could turn around and stop others from using it.
Yoko is possibly trying to set a precedent to use for other cases.
By asking the USPTO not to issue a trademark? I don't think so.
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Oh goof
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Yoko
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Yoko Get Out of Lennon Murphy's Way
Lennon Murphy has purposefully sought to confuse the public and to exploit the popularity of John Lennon
Lennon Murphy commmitted fraud when she obtained her registration for the mark LENNON.
And the basis for these charges? There really ain't any defensible basis. Its the sort of overreaching that comes when people mistakenly believe that they have a monopoly on certain words.
Truth be known. Lennon Murphy never needed anyone's permission to make a claim to the term LENNON for entertainment services.
Truth be known Yoko Ono's claim is limited to the signature of John Lennon for eyeglass cases, eyeglass frames, tote bags and address/date books.
Truth be known it's Lennon Murphy who should feel hurt.
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Yoko Get Out of Lennon Murphy's Way
Lennon Murphy has purposefully sought to confuse the public and to exploit the popularity of John Lennon
Lennon Murphy commmitted fraud when she obtained her registration for the mark LENNON.
And the basis for these charges? There really ain't any defensible basis. Its the sort of overreaching that comes when people mistakenly believe that they have a monopoly on certain words.
Truth be known. Lennon Murphy never needed anyone's permission to make a claim to the term LENNON for entertaiment services.
Truth be known Yoko Ono's claim is limited to the signature of John Lennon for eyeglass cases, eyeglass frames, tote bags and address/date books.
Truth be known it's Lennon Murphy who should feel hurt.
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This argument here.
The audacity of someone to try to register the name "Lennon" for exclusive use, KNOWING that John Lennon is one of the most influential musicians in the history of making music. She gets what she deserves for doing such an asinine thing.
She's an idiot, who tried to profit/get publicity from John Lennon's legend-status - and she failed, miserably. I wouldn't listen to a song from her if she won every grammy award given for the next decade.
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