Thursday, October 7, 2010

Hard Rock Cafe Trademark Issues: Not Too Happy About Free Publicity


Among the already-raunchy assortment of reality TV shows, the new “Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel” is pushing the envelope. And the Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. chain (a different company than Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) doesn’t find the debauchery very entertaining. The Hard Rock Café recently filed a law suit for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and a variety of other charges regarding the tarnishing of Hard Rock’s image. Hard Rock Hotel is a licensee of the Hard Rock brand. But Hard Rock Café now wants to revoke that license agreement.

The case is No. 1:10cv07244-UA, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

According to the suit, Hard Rock Café was founded as a celebration of Rock and Roll, good times, and fun. But sexual harassment, violence and crime are not part of its credo. Apparently, TruTV has no plans for canceling, or altering the show, which it hails as a main revenue source. If Hard Rock Café wins, Hard Rock Hotel may have to change its name.

2 comments:

  1. Now that's a bit of worry really because one has to loose the name and if its the hotel then it will be really bad thing. Probably the hotel is trying to get publicity that is free of cost in this case, they might settle out later on. That's what I feel as I have noticed a few cases like that before. I have a blog related to Trademark issues that has some useful information as well see http://www.trademark-sentinel.com/blog/check-the-status-of-your-trademark-application/ and http://www.trademark-sentinel.com/blog/should-i-include-an-entity-designation-such-as-inc-or-llc-in-my-trademark-application/
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Its free publicity after all then whats the issue, and why is there a dispute with the real rock image that even includes a partial sex or violence after all its Hard Rock and thats what it has always been about.....Lets see who ends up changing the name.

    ReplyDelete