Eminem has filed a protective order to avoid sitting for a deposition in his trademark battle against reality stars Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon.
The Without Me rapper, who also goes by the nickname Slim Shady, filed an objection in February after The Real Housewives of Potomac stars applied to trademark the phrase “Reasonably Shady”, which is also the name of their podcast.
Lawyers for Bryant and Dixon filed a motion earlier this month to compel Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, to sit for a deposition, where he would have to answer questions under oath.
However, Eminem’s lawyer argued in a motion filed on 15 December that the process would be “unduly burdensome” and insisted he has “limited knowledge of the subjects at issue”.
They offered up three other people, including Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg, for a deposition instead, claiming that they have “equal and superior knowledge to (Eminem) on the relevant topics”.
According to the documents, obtained by AllHipHop, The Real Slim Shady rapper’s lawyer is asking for “a protective order precluding the deposition of Marshall Mathers”.
However, an attorney for Bryant and Dixon remained insistent in a 20 December filing that Eminem should sit himself, arguing that his “state of mind and his belief as to reputation are central to claims regarding dilution”.
“(They) should be afforded the right to actually question the actual party who filed the Notice of Opposition, and whose reputation is allegedly harmed by the Applicants’ mark,” the motion reads.
Eminem’s legal team stuck by their position in the most recent filing in the case on 22 December.
The 51-year-old has owned the trademarks to both “Slim Shady” and “Shady” for the past two decades.