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Interesting trademark case between estate of John Wayne and Duke University. I would like to know how much money Duke gets from trading its trademark and logo compared to Duke (Wayne's) endorsements. But it shouldn't make any difference. Whatever the numbers the lawyers for both sides are the ones making the real money. John Wayne Heirs Sue University Over the Name Duke - ABC News
Interesting trademark case between estate of John Wayne and Duke University. I would like to know how much money Duke gets from trading its trademark and logo compared to Duke (Wayne's) endorsements. But it shouldn't make any difference. Whatever the numbers the lawyers for both sides are the ones making the real money. John Wayne Heirs Sue University Over the Name Duke - ABC News
They are going to lose. You can't trademark a family name....and Duke is named after the family that helped endow it. Now, if Duke was using John Wayne's image....than there could be a case.
I think some of the 'heirs' are hard up for cash and seeking a payday.
They are going to lose. You can't trademark a family name....and Duke is named after the family that helped endow it. Now, if Duke was using John Wayne's image....than there could be a case.
I think some of the 'heirs' are hard up for cash and seeking a payday.
I agree. Furthermore, I think its kind of ridiculous that although Marion Morrison had already acted in his first films, he was little more than a bit star and hardly known as "The Duke" in 1927, when Duke changed its name.
They are going to lose. You can't trademark a family name....and Duke is named after the family that helped endow it. Now, if Duke was using John Wayne's image....than there could be a case.
I think some of the 'heirs' are hard up for cash and seeking a payday.
Read the article. That's not what the lawsuit is about. At all. WRAL has a better article about it, but John Wayne Enterprises (JWE) is seeking to market a brand of bourbon named "Duke." The University, meanwhile, has consistently blocked JWE's attempts in the past to use the name "Duke" in commercial avenues (restaurants, etc) because they contend it would cause confusion and would dilute their brand name. Lawsuits aren't always about "seeking a payday" and in this case JWE only seeks to be able to use the "Duke" name as part of their currently existing portfolio of products. They're not seeking some payout from Duke University, only a legal opinion stating that it's not likely that use of the word "Duke" by JWE wouldn't infringe on any of Duke University's trademarks and isn't likely to cause confusion.
And one can't trademark a family name? Wholly incorrect. McDonald's, Johnson & Johnson, Disney, R.J. Reynolds, H.J. Heinz, Hardee's, and a host of others would vigorously defend their trademarks in court any day of the week.
I honestly don't see how the University thinks their marks could get confused with this - the image of Wayne, the signature, the spur, the distinct lack of the color blue or any use of fonts used by the University.
Similar (in some ways) to the case against Natty Greens. Anheuser Busch is claiming their name "Natty" causes confusion with their brand "Natural Light" (AKA "Natty Light"). I find it hilarious, there is no confusion.
Natty Green has pretty good beer. Natty Light is like having sex in a canoe...
Spoiler
F-ing near water
The world was a better place when everything was not litigated.
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