Beyoncé v Feyoncé: parties moving toward settlement negotiations

01-11-2018 Print this page
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Forbes.com: "One month after a federal judge denied Beyoncé’s request for an injunction in her trademark infringement lawsuit against a Texas company selling “Feyoncé” merchandise, the parties have informed the court they are moving toward settlement negotiations.

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In 2016, Beyoncé sued the defendants, who are representing themselves in the lawsuit, alleging that they “willfully traded upon the goodwill and notoriety of Beyoncé, arguably one of the most famous musical artists and entrepreneurs in the world.” The superstar alleged Maurice and Lopez were using her trademark to sell products featuring the word “Feyoncé” and sometimes with the phrase “put a ring on it" — plays on the word “fiancé” and the lyrics from Beyonce’s smash hit, “Single Ladies.”

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The defendants countered that Beyoncé had provided no evidence that they infringed on her trademark or suffered any damages. Moreover, the defendants claimed they marketed their products specifically to engaged couples.

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This lawsuit, which has been going on for over two years, has likely done a better job of marketing Feyoncé products than the small Texas company ever could on its own, though how additional revenue stacks up in comparison to settlement costs only the company knows.

Still, the end result — another ruling that a jury should decide whether a pun constitutes trademark infringement or is simply a clever business ploy — could potentially inspire more budding entrepreneurs to get creative with well-established trademarks."

 

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