Beyonce has been dealt a legal blow in her trademark battle with the owners of a Texas company.
Beyonce has taken issue with bosses at Feyonce, Inc., and the products they are selling under the moniker, which is a play on her own trademarked name.
Beyonce wanted the firm’s owners to cease selling their goods, which reportedly feature phrases and lyrics from her hit song Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). She alleged they were capitalising on the huge success of her 2008 release by infringing on her trademarks and copyrights, which she believed would cause “irreparable harm” to her business reputation – as she had no control over the quality of the products.
She was also seeking all profits from the unofficial merchandise, damages, and a permanent injunction on any future items, but U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan has shut down her request, ruling Feyonce’s existence would not create confusion in the marketplace.
“A rational jury might or might not conclude that the pun here is sufficient to dispel any confusion among the purchasing public,” Judge Nathan wrote in her ruling in Manhattan on Monday (01Oct18).
The lawmaker also ordered the parties to discuss a possible settlement and trial dates and she scheduled the next hearing for 1 November (18).
Beyonce has yet to comment on the ruling, but Feyonce, Inc. bosses previously claimed their business was not named after the star, and is instead just the phonetic way of pronouncing ‘fiancee’ or ‘fiance’, insisting their products are marketed at engaged couples.
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