Black Eyed Peas performer and public nuisance Will.I.Am. files trademark claim against noted hip-hop producer/performer Pharrell Williams for a peculiar reason, Rolling Stone reports:
Will.i.am is taking legal action against Pharrell Williams over the latter's new creative brand "i am OTHER" – claiming that he owns the copyright [sic--actual claim seems to be trademark] to the phrase "I AM" and that Pharrell's logo is "confusingly similar," according to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone.
Photo credit: HighTechDad / Foter.com / CC BY
In his notice of opposition, will.i.am argues that Pharrell would be using his "i am OTHER" brand on clothing and other items in a manner similar to the goods that bear his own "I AM" logo. "The registration of the mark . . . is likely to dilute the I AM mark and the WILL.I.AM mark," the document reads.
Lawyers for Pharrell and "i am OTHER" filed an answer to will.i.am's notice of opposition, denying all such claims.
What will.i.am has done is what any trademark owner must do to protect and maintain a trademark. Our client is following the standard procedures of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to defend trademarks that have been registered and that he has used widely and continuously for many years. This is a run-of-the-mill trademark procedure that has been going on since late last year.
will.i.am has registered several trademarks, including "I AM", which is also emphasized in, and a significant element of, his professional and trademarked name. He has been using the "I AM" mark in connection with various goods, services and philanthropic activities for more than a decade. Furthermore, our client is in the process of registering other marks that include the words "I AM" – and building a family of "I AM" marks….
