I was shopping at our local supermarket when I found this bottle of washing soap.

Could Prince sue Persil for using the name/brand 'Purple Rain'? (is it protected?)

I hope Prince could sue them, even my mother in laws laundry doesn't deserve the smell of it.

unless he trademarked the name for consumer products, no he can't. when you trademark something, you have to specify its use and then show use. and if you don't use it, you lose it. they don't allow trademark squatting.

*splash!*

"Hey!"

"Sorry. I only wanted to see you underneath the Purple Rain."

No the name isn't protected. No he can't sue them. Why would you hope Prince can sue someone? Haven't we had enough of that bullshit from the little imp?

You're talking about laundry soap.

There are tribute bands out there, dressing up as him, using names of his songs as their band name, and evoking his imagery, etc, and he's not suing them.

dumbass said:

unless he trademarked the name for consumer products, no he can't. when you trademark something, you have to specify its use and then show use. and if you don't use it, you lose it. they don't allow trademark squatting.

Then why is Apple Records, and Apple Computers in a bitch fight over the logo and name 25 years later?

My wife bought some Purple Rain nail polish the other day.

eyewishuheaven said:

*splash!*

"Hey!"

"Sorry. I only wanted to see you underneath the Purple Rain."

That thing looks generic...

ernestsewell said:

dumbass said:

unless he trademarked the name for consumer products, no he can't. when you trademark something, you have to specify its use and then show use. and if you don't use it, you lose it. they don't allow trademark squatting.

Then why is Apple Records, and Apple Computers in a bitch fight over the logo and name 25 years later?

Because those businesses are sufficiently similar for it to matter.

dumbass is correct about the requirements for a trademark.

I got news for ya, he will be suing a LOT of people. Clothing companies, hair care companies, cosmetic lines, home fragrances, and that "rapper" Drake. I have seen so many PR-inspired products through the years! I wondered the same thing for a long time, but yeah...not gonna happen.

Genesia said:

dumbass is correct

That's just funny to me.

Efan said:

Genesia said:

dumbass is correct

That's just funny to me.

It felt pretty funny writing it, too.

eyewishuheaven said:

*splash!*

"Hey!"

"Sorry. I only wanted to see you underneath the Purple Rain."

I remember, back in the 80's, when there was Prince spaghetti on the market. Haven't seen it on the grocery store shelves around here in a long time. Here is a commercial that was on TV:

That commercial was as cool as hell.

[Edited 9/11/10 12:39pm]