Will.i.am sues Pharrell over a trademark, Pharrell responds

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Thread started 10/14/13 10:47am

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Will.i.am sues Pharrell over a trademark, Pharrell responds

This is getting good lol For those of you who weren't following the case, I'm posting the articles from last month and today:

Will.i.am has fired back at Pharrell in a lawsuit, claiming Pharrell is a serial thief who steals names for profit -- including Will's.

Pharrell has launched a YouTube channel called I AM OTHER. After Will fired off a cease and desist letter, demanding that Pharrell stop using "I AM," Pharrell filed a lawsuit, asking a judge to protect his right to use the "I AM" moniker.

Now we've obtained new legal docs, in which Will.i.am is countersuing Pharrell, claiming the dude has a long, copycat history. Will.i.am notes ... Pharrell co-founded a record label called Star Trak Entertainment -- sound familiar?

But wait, there's more. Will also notes Pharrell is being sued by Marvin Gaye's family for allegedly ripping off "Got to Give it Up" for his summer smash "Blurred Lines."

And there's still more. Will claims Pharrell also tried to register the trademark, Pink Slime -- which Will says is similar to Slime, owned by Mattel. That's a stretch, right?

As for using "I AM," Will points out it will confuse people because they're both on the same record label and they have similar musical styles.

As for what Will wants ... $$$.

http://www.tmz.com/2013/0...-copy-cat/

The gloves are off in Pharrell WIlliams' trademark war with Will.i.am -- Pharrell now says Will.i.am is DREAMING if he thinks he's up to the "Get Lucky" singer's level ... because he's not even close.

As we reported, Will.i.am filed a lawsuit against Pharrell over the trademark "I Am" ... after Pharrell attempted to stake his claim on a YouTube channel called "I Am Other."

In his docs, Will.i.am suggested users might get confused over the "I Am" name because he and Pharrell have both "achieved great distinction" in the hip hop world, each releasing mega hits ... and working with the industry's top professionals.

But Pharrell has fired back ... saying that's utter BS ... Will.i.am hasn't achieved the same distinction at all. As a result, Pharrell argues there would be zero confusion about who's really behind the "I Am Other" channel.

What's more, Pharrell says Will.i.am's track record for copyright infringement is embarrassing ... saying Will.i.am's been a defendant in nearly a dozen infringement lawsuits (including song stealing).

For these reasons, Pharrell wants Will.i.am's lawsuit thrown out of court ... so he can use the phrase "I Am Other" with zero repercussions. He also wants Will.i.am to pay for his lawyers.

Will.i.am's rep had no comment.

http://www.tmz.com/2013/1...-am-other/

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Reply #1 posted 10/14/13 11:47am

robertlove	I seriously had the read it again to find the "I am" that Will.i.am is using... it's in his name! I never read it that way. Don't see much of a case.
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Reply #2 posted 10/14/13 12:01pm

Timmy84	Two egocentric divas fighting over a stupid lawsuit.
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Reply #3 posted 10/14/13 12:29pm

HatrinaHaterwi
tz

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Oh for crying out loud! disbelief

I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart.

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Reply #4 posted 10/14/13 2:01pm

Gunsnhalen	Will.i.am is the Christoper Columbus of music. He has no right to say he trademarked anything Pistols sounded like "Fuck off," wheras The Clash sounded like "Fuck Off, but here's why.."- Thedigitialgardener All music is shit music and no music is real- gunsnhalen Datdonkeydick- Asherfierce Gary Hunts Album Isn't That Good- Soulalive
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Reply #5 posted 10/14/13 5:19pm

AlexdeParis

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He wants to trademark the phrase "I am"? eek confused disbelief

I am going to point out that Nas released an album with that title long before Will ever became famous. I am now going to pretend I never heard any of this nonsense.

"Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind." ~ Clive Davis

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Reply #6 posted 10/15/13 2:59am

SoulAlive	AlexdeParis said: He wants to trademark the phrase "I am"? I am going to point out that Nas released an album with that title long before Will ever became famous. I am now going to pretend I never heard any of this nonsense. Earth Wind and Fire released an album with that title in 1979
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Reply #7 posted 10/15/13 8:30am

HatrinaHaterwi
tz

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SoulAlive said:

AlexdeParis said:

He wants to trademark the phrase "I am"?

I am going to point out that Nas released an album with that title long before Will ever became famous. I am now going to pretend I never heard any of this nonsense.

Earth Wind and Fire released an album with that title in 1979

Hell, by Will.i.am's point of view, Muhammad Ali should have trademarked it in 1964 when he began telling AND showing the world, "I AM The Greatest!" lol

I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart.

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Reply #8 posted 10/15/13 10:26am

kewlschool

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Dr. Suess should sue, says Sam I am

and I do not like green eggs and ham.

99.9% of everything I say is strictly for my own entertainment

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Reply #9 posted 10/15/13 12:03pm

HatrinaHaterwi
tz

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kewlschool said:

Dr. Suess should sue, says Sam I am

and I do not like green eggs and ham.

lol nod

I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart.

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Reply #10 posted 10/15/13 1:32pm

ScarletScandal

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Just change it to Eye Am and go to bed. Sheesh.

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Reply #11 posted 10/15/13 1:46pm

bobzilla77

SoulAlive said:

AlexdeParis said:

He wants to trademark the phrase "I am"?

I am going to point out that Nas released an album with that title long before Will ever became famous. I am now going to pretend I never heard any of this nonsense.

Earth Wind and Fire released an album with that title in 1979

And Pete Townshend made one with the same title in 1972, devotional music for his spiritual leader Meher Baba. I would assume the title comes from something in Baba's writings.

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Reply #12 posted 10/15/13 2:48pm

phunkdaddy

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Just wasted 10 seconds of my time especially the part of them debating who's
bigger than who. Fame can make you arrogant and stupid.

Don't laugh at my funk
This funk is a serious joint

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Reply #13 posted 10/15/13 4:11pm

Cinny

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kewlschool said:

Dr. Suess should sue, says Sam I am

and I do not like green eggs and ham.

I Do Not Like Them, Will I Am.

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Reply #14 posted 10/15/13 4:41pm

Scorp	Timmy84 said: Two egocentric divas fighting over a stupid lawsuit. lolll
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Reply #15 posted 10/16/13 5:06pm

whitechocolate
brotha

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Maybe Will should sue Earth, Wind & Fire for using his "trademark monicker" in 1979 for their "I Am" album. He could get retroactive payments from over the past thirty-four years in back royalties. wink

Hungry? Just look in the mirror and get fed up.

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Reply #16 posted 10/16/13 5:25pm

Red	ahhhh then I guess Molson Canadian should sue Willi 'cause for years, I AM was the marketing hook http://youtu.be/BRI-A3vakVg
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Reply #17 posted 10/16/13 5:27pm

Red	I think Popeye should sue Willie. "I AM what I AM...and that's all that I AM"
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Reply #18 posted 10/17/13 8:39am

Cinny

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You know, I thought this was just about Pharrell's youtube channel name...

but I have PUSHA T's new album (he was in The Clipse who debuted a decade back mainly with Neptunes production)...

and Pharrell's production or publishing was also listed as "I Am Other".

IT ACTUALLY DID cause confusion at first for my friend who was reading the block-style credits!

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Reply #19 posted 10/17/13 10:43am

jeidee

Cinny said:

You know, I thought this was just about Pharrell's youtube channel name...

but I have PUSHA T's new album (he was in The Clipse who debuted a decade back mainly with Neptunes production)...

and Pharrell's production or publishing was also listed as "I Am Other".

IT ACTUALLY DID cause confusion at first for my friend who was reading the block-style credits!

Hey Cinny - sort of a tangent - if you are digging the new Pusha T offering check out his collaboration with Chase & Status "Machine Gun". Its a monster. That guy has it. Always did.

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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Will.i.am sues Pharrell over a trademark, Pharrell responds