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Edit: SG Lennon is Being Sued by Yoko Ono???

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12 2008 5:00 PM

Submitted by Fatality. Edited By Fatality.

TAGS: SG, Suicide Girl, Lawsuit, Yoko Ono

On February 12th, I wrote the following news story:

"I’ve never been a big fan of Yoko Ono. Though had you previously asked me to justify this opinion, I would have been at a loss. It was a view bequeathed to me by my father and his frequent voicing of what bitch he thought she was. But now I’ve been given some concrete evidence: she is suing Lennon.

Yes, she is suing Lennon, Lennon Murphy, the SG model and musician. Lennon is her real name, but Yoko Ono seems to think that the performer is “intentionally exploiting the name and confusing people by using it.” Lennon was, in fact, named after John Lennon and has been performing with that name since the age of 14.

Lennon is my first name by birth and I am regularly asked if I was named after the Beatle, having always replied no. My mother named me after "John Lennon that wrote songs, painted, and baked bread with his son". She named me for the man, not the pop star.



Lennon claims that Yoko Ono has been aware of her name and its usage since 2000, when a lawyer at Arista Records presented the widow with the information. In 2003, Lennon trademarked the name with the United States Patent and Trademark office, and everything seemed to be copasetic. Fast-forward to now – two days before the statute of limitations on the trademark was to expire – the same lawyer has brought forward a suit against Lennon Murphy for use of the name. She is being accused of misleadingly representing herself, causing confusing in the marketplace, and tarnishing John Lennon’s name.

Lennon has posted an open letter on her website and Myspace page, from which the following is an excerpt:

I'm not sure what confusion I could be causing since I don't have the $50,000 to hire a lawyer and fight this. If people were confusing me with John Lennon and accidently buying my records I should have more than enough money to live my life and hire a lawyer? I wish that was the case. I haven't worked since Oct. 2007, so I live on just enough to get through the months until I get back on the road. I have no idea what I'm going to do yet in this situation, and I'm stressed, angry, and scared.

This is my life. I have no respect for the name Murphy. It was my father's name we will leave it at that. I have represented myself as Lennon because this is my name. That was the name that meant so much to my mother. That's who I am. I'm pissed and hurt that someone in Yoko's position has nothing better to do than fuck with my life, and collect the $25,000,000 a year that the John Lennon estate brings in. Yes, this is a real number or close enough to it. This is how I look at it. With that kind of income she probably pays more in taxes every year the you or I will make in our whole life time. So what do I have that can be of such value to her after 8 years. I don't want to lose my name all because someone is bored in their life of luxury.

I don't know what's going to be the outcome, but I just wanted everyone to know what is going on. I never falsified my intentions, I never used John Lennon for my benefit, and I never took one cent out of Yoko's bank account. I play music, my name is Lennon, and the most heartbreaking thing out of this whole situation is the insult it gives to my late mother and who she believed in; on top of demeaning the man that John Lennon was and will always be.



And I agree. So here’s to supporting Lennon, a fellow Suicide Girl, against the incomprehensible greed of Yoko Ono. Yoko Ono, the woman whose February 2007 remix album is entitled Yes, I’m a Witch.

And, for the record, we're not alone - even Julian Lennon has voiced his support.




Fatality is just glad that Lennon is the SG and not Yoko Ono. *shudder*"

Since then, however, forthcoming information has necessitated a reworking of that story. On February 14, a reaction letter from Yoko Ono was distributed. In this letter, Yoko claims that the previous claims of a suit against Lennon Murphy are untrue.

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.



It will be interesting to see how this all pans out as the feverish frenzy from the previous reporting simmers down...we can disentangle the relative distribution between misunderstanding, publicity intents, poor journalism, fulfillment of expectations and desires, misapprehension of the law, and all of the other factors that can combine to create such a headline. The truth seems a bit obscured right now, but if any additional news or commentaries from the two women arise, I will be sure to further update the story.

Fatality has edited.

 

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Darke

Darke

Trego, WI
June 2005

FEB 12, 2008 05:57 PM

let me now reiterate in the official news article...

Fuck that warbling lamprey.

crispy

crispy

NEWSWIRE

Philadelphia, PA

FEB 12, 2008 05:57 PM

Yoko's a bitch.

That's all I really have to say here.

DevilsReject

DevilsReject

Cleveland, OH
February 2007

FEB 12, 2008 06:03 PM

I can't imagine that John Lennon, who was an advocate of peace and love, would really even want involved in something like this.

How disappointing.

well written Fatality.

Karma

Karma

SUICIDEGIRL

Pennsylvania, USA

FEB 12, 2008 06:05 PM

Note: Lennon will be on Howard Stern on Wed. February 13th.

we3_pirate

we3_pirate

I'm lost
July 2007

FEB 12, 2008 06:12 PM

Yoko Ono deserves this, along with a kick to her cooter:


image courtesy of Kindle

zenFish

zenFish

Calgary, AB
August 2004

FEB 12, 2008 06:23 PM

Repeat of what I said in the other thread



I really can't stand Yoko, at all.

Seriously, says in the article that she gave approval for the name usage back in 2000... um... prior art then?... it's been eight freaking years... seriously, what the hell?

Now, there's the other thing, what if Lennon, just went under her real name (ala Matthew Good/Matthew Good Band), wouldn't that cover it ?



To add, is there anyway we can start some donations going for Lennon, so that she can defend herself?

we3_pirate

we3_pirate

I'm lost
July 2007

FEB 12, 2008 06:25 PM

zenFish said:
Repeat of what I said in the other thread



I really can't stand Yoko, at all.

Seriously, says in the article that she gave approval for the name usage back in 2000... um... prior art then?... it's been eight freaking years... seriously, what the hell?

Now, there's the other thing, what if Lennon, just went under her real name (ala Matthew Good/Matthew Good Band), wouldn't that cover it ?



To add, is there anyway we can start some donations going for Lennon, so that she can defend herself?



Best way to do so AND piss off Yoko Ono? Purchase any albums Lennon has made. biggrin

Nessuno

Nessuno

Washington, DC
May 2006

FEB 12, 2008 06:41 PM

I met Yoko Ono's sister once. That whole family is full of epic crazy fail.

ckdexterhaven

ckdexterhaven

Redding, CA
December 2005

FEB 12, 2008 06:45 PM

Hello massive publicity for SG.

Benzino

Benzino

Winnipeg, MB
November 2006

FEB 12, 2008 08:27 PM

Let's see confusion about a female singer.suicide girl and an icon who died 28 years ago? Fuck Yoko Ono is a dumb bitch.

Nixon

Nixon

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

FEB 12, 2008 09:06 PM

I hope this doesn't become a trend. Other wise Reagan and I shall have to leave the country...

Seriously, though. It's the girls NAME. Like, on her birth certificate. there's only so many names. Sometimes they get re-used. Stoopid Yoko.

Falstaff

Falstaff

Athens, GA
February 2004

FEB 12, 2008 09:19 PM

It's as if she has to earn the fresh disdain of each successive generation. At least she's good at that, unlike so many other things she has pursued.

Also, if Tricky Dick rises from his grave at Yorba Linda to demand the return of his name, I'd give it to him. He was pretty rough in life; I imagine zombie Nixon is not to be crossed.

switchopens

switchopens

I'm lost
December 2007

FEB 12, 2008 09:27 PM

Ha-ha, milking the big corporate tit. Do these people surf the net looking for someone to sue? There's got to be a lot of money in it!

strndniowa

strndniowa

Grimes, IA
May 2007

FEB 12, 2008 09:27 PM

I have two children- keith and wesley- if I would have named one John, and he made a name for himself, would he now be getting sued? Or what if a friend of mine growing up, named Robert McDonald opened a restaurant serving smoked ribs, and called it McDonald's rib house (did happen, and gave up)
I'm sorry-this has gotten out of hand....
And to finish with a joke-
What is better than 10'000 EVIL Lawyers on a prison ship headed for Antartica?
If the ship sinks!!!!!
And to finish seriously after the bad joke?
What the fuck is going on with the world- and the courts in our country? Isn't there something better that can be done with this time and effort puke

SocietysPliers

SocietysPliers

Ocala, FL
October 2004

FEB 12, 2008 09:41 PM

Wow.

An older person named Yoko or Ono wouold sue HER.

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