Yoko Ono takes legal to stop a singer using the name 'Lennon'
Yoko Ono is taking legal action to stop a US singer-songwriter using the name 'Lennon'.
Ono - who was married to former Beatles legend John Lennon - claims in court documents that Lennon Murphy has "fraudulently" registerd the name as a trademark.
The performance artist also alleges that Murphy, 25, is responsible for the "tarnishment" of her late husband's name.
Ono, 74, also claims that Murphy is intentionally exploiting the name and confusing people by using it.
But Ms Murphy, the lead singer in the band "Lennon", has claimed that Ono and her legal team did not object in 2000 when the group wanted to use the name for its debut release on Arista Records.
Murphy said: "If Yoko prevails, Lennon might never be able to tour or release records using the name Lennon."
The band Lennon has since been dropped by Arista, according to celebrity news website TMZ.
Ms Murphy says she is named after Beatles legend John Lennon, who was shot dead outside his New York apartment building in December 1980, at the age of 40.
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Dear Friends A musician
Dear Friends
A musician named Lennon Murphy is claiming that Yoko Ono has sued her and that Yoko is seeking to stop Lennon Murphy from performing under her name, Lennon Murphy. Both of these claims are untrue.
Several years ago, Lennon Murphy sought Yoko's permission to do her performances under her name, Lennon Murphy. Yoko, of course, did not object to her request. Subsequently, without Yoko's knowledge, Lennon Murphy filed an application in the United States trademark Office requesting the exclusive right to utilize the name "Lennon" for musical performances. Yoko's attorneys asked Lennon Murphy's attorneys and manager to withdraw her registration of exclusivity to the name LENNON for the trademark. Yoko also offered to cover all costs Lennon Murphy had incurred in filing for the trademark. But Lennon Murphy went ahead to register.
Yoko did not sue Lennon Murphy, but sought to stop her from getting the exclusive right to the name Lennon for performance purposes. For that, Yoko's attorneys, simply notified the Trademark office that Yoko did not believe it was fair that Ms. Murphy be granted the exclusive right to the "Lennon" trademark in relation to musical and entertainment services. As you can see, this is a very important issue for Yoko and the Lennon family.
Yoko says: I am really hurt if people thought that I told a young artist to not use her own name in her performances and had sought to sue her. I did no such thing. I hope this allegation will be cleared.
Thank you for your kind attention,
Yoko