FAME APPEAL

Usually products have promotional vehicles to publicize their brand, (i.e.Red Bull car) however there is a craze in the hip hop culture of automobile branding. I came across this craze through a discussion in an automobile forum and someone asked whether it was illegal to paint your car with a trademark on it. The federal law that protects trademarks, Lanham Act, states that these hip hop cars could be infringing on the trademarks when they “use the mark in commerce in connection with the sale, offering for sale, distribution or …

 
 
Aston Martin must protect its brand name from Rick Ross’s hit single “Aston Martin Music” (music video seen below). The high end automobile manufacturer’s image of luxury sports cars is usually depicted in upscale show rooms and 007 films. However, Rick Ross’s song has made the exclusive car a now tacky pimpmobile.  Even though High end cars and hip hop go hand in hand, Rick Ross took the relationship to an unprecedented level. He not only named his song after the manufacturer, he demonstrated it as a vehicle to accommodate drug dealing, transport narcotics and  invite Porno …

Abercrombie and Fitch has always been known for their sexually charged suggestive themes, that’s old news. So is their ability to strike a racial chord, most notably their 2002 t-shirts that had the slogan “Wong Brothers Laundry Service – two Wongs can make it white” and “Abercrombie & Fitch Buddha bash – get your Buddha on the floor.”  These actions have led many to question how they plan to continue marketing products in a world where the dynamics of race are rapidly changing.
Apparently, Abercrombie is singing the same tune again. …

Time Warner Cable seeks a declaratory judgment (what is a DJ) to decide whether the Ipad or “smart televisions” are included as video display devices for subscribers to watch Viacom tv shows. Networks like BET, MTV and Comedy central are all subsidiaries of Viacom, and Time Warner Cable has an affiliate agreement with Viacom which allows them to broadcast those networks.  Viacom is ticked off that Time Warner Cable transmits MTV, BET, CMT shows to its subscribers through an Ipad. Viacom states that Ipads are not what was intended when they permitted Time …

Small time rapper and songwriter Vince Peters filed a notice of appeal on 3/25/11 to the dismissal of his case against Kanye West. Kanye West raps that he is STRONGER… so could Vince Peters be any WRONGER? Known simply as Vince P, he has become a laughing stock on many entertainment blogs when his copyright infringement suit against Kanye was thrown out earlier this month. Vince alleged that the lyrics in Kanye West’s song “Stronger” are substantially similar to that of his demo song “Stronger.” In 2006, as Vince …

Rihanna is being sued for copyright infringement by David LaChapelle. complaint below. LaChapelle is an artist and photographer. If you do not recognize his name, I am sure you know his brassy, hip, and edgy work. (See clip below.) He has helped transform the way pop culture is marketed in print advertisements, commercials, and, for our purposes, music videos. If you watch Rihanna’s music video, S&M, you will see that it has been duplicated and derived from Mr. LaChappelle’s work.
The suit, which asks for at least $1 million in damages, argues that …

Nicki Minaj is the Hip Hop Barbie. At least she has marketed herself as one. Mattel owns the Barbie toy brand.  I do not understand how Mattel has not taken legal action against Minaj for trademark infringement.  Where are you Mattel? Nicki Minaj has used the Barbie trademark in jewelry, album design, and even artist label. I found absolutely no lawsuit or legal complaint against Nicki Minaj.
Advice to Mattel:  Back in 2008, an underground rapper known as Mista Swissher Sweet, infringed on the a cigar trademark. The mark known …

Here are the top 10 Fame Appeal posts for 2010.

Isn’t it funny how my copyright final is only weeks away, and the Federal Government has suddenly gone on a copyright infringement witch hunt and closed down numerous websites without any notice or due process? Congress has been trying to pass a bill that would allow the Justice Dept. to seek expedited court orders and shut down infringing websites. The bill is called COICA, Combating Online Infringement and Copyright Act. If you bothered to read the link, you’ll notice that the BILL HAS NOT BEEN PASSED YET.
The Federal Government has prematurely used ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, …

Looking through various sites today on recent entertainment news, I came across a Yahoo headline that posted a video. The video was the redone commercial from the original “Back to the Future” movie trailer. When I first saw the headline, I immediately assumed that they were making another movie. My nerves began to jump because the “Back to the Future” series is, by far, my favorite film. It is such a staple in pop-culture and can still be enjoyed by many audiences today. However, it was not, but instead, the …