Does FEYONCÉ blur BEYONCÉ's distinctiveness?
Beyoncé's Drunk in Love Would you think that products carrying the word FEYONCÉ are sponsored by or affiliated with famous singer Beyoncé, or blur the distinctiveness of her mark? This is the question at the centr e of Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, et al., v. Feyoncé, Inc. et al. , 16-CV-2532 (AJN) . The facts The defendants started selling merchandise using the brand name FEYONCÉ, as well as some phrases from Beyoncé's songs. Their products were targeted at the engaged to be married ... that is fiancés. The items were sold through the website feyonceshop.com, as well as etsy.com. The defendants had even tried to obtain US trade mark registrations, but the USPTO refused them on grounds of confusing similarities with the registered BEYONCÉ trade mark. Beyoncé and the entity that owns (lots of) her registered trade marks, BGK Trademark Holdings, brought proceedings against them for: Federal Trademark Infringement, ex 15 U.S.C. § 1114 ; Federal Unfair Compet...