This is The Legal Beat, a weekly music law newsletter from Billboard Pro, bringing you a one-stop cheat sheet of big new cases, landmark decisions and all the fun stuff in between.
This week: Pharrell faces another trademark dispute, this time filed by Pink over the term “P.Inc.” Madonna is being sued again by fans angry over the late start of her concerts. YoungBoy Never Break Again Arrested Again On New Drug And Weapons Charges. and many more.
THE BIG STORY: Pink v. P.Inc
Another week, another trademark controversy for Pharrell Williams.
Less than a month after his longtime friend and music partner Chad Hugo accused him of wrongfully trying to secure trademarks on their joint name 'Neptunes', the superstar has been hit with similar action by singer Pink.
The contested trademark? The term “P.Inc,” which Pharrell's lawyers used to file last year as a federal trademark covering a wide range of advertising and business services. Pink's lawyers say the term is so similar to her own stage name that it would confuse consumers who see it.
Surprisingly, Pink isn't actually the first trademark owner to complain about Pharrell's trademark application. Last month, the app garnered another objection filing from a retail giant that has been using the term PINK for decades. For more, read our full story here.
Other top stories this week…
MADONNA SUES AGAIN – Madonna and Live Nation were hit another federal class action late start to her concerts, this time filed by rejected ticket buyers in Washington DC who accuse her of showing “complete disrespect to her fans” by making them wait “hours for her show in a hot, uncomfortable arena” . The case comes three months after Madonna was hit with a similar case in New York – one she is currently seeking to have thrown out of court.
YOUNGBOY HAS BEEN ARRESTED – YoungBoy Never Broke Again (aka NBA YoungBoy) was arrested on new drug and weapons charges amid a multi-year house arrest in Utah as he awaits trial on separate federal gun charges. Local police they say he ran a 'large-scale prescription fraud ring' with the aim of purchasing codeine from area pharmacies, using associates to illegally purchase the pharmaceuticals under a real doctor's name. Federal prosecutors, who had already charged the rapper with violating the terms of his house arrest, moved quickly to revoke his pretrial detention altogether.
THE MOTOWN LEGEND RETURNS – Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. fired after being named as an accused is embroiling his son in a nasty legal battle with a former business consultant and romantic partner, calling it a “belligerent, desperate and disgusting attempt” to “shake up” his family.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/pharrell-pink-trademark-madonna-sued-again-youngboy-arrested-legal-news/
