Beyoncé Sues ‘Feyoncé’ Inc, For Copyright Infringement

According Reuters reports, Beyoncé has sued a Texas company, Feyoncé Inc, for selling merchandise that infringes on her copyrighted name. She is demanding all proceeds from Feyoncéshop.com sales plus damages for illegally profiting off her trademark.

The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court and claims that Feyoncé has ignored the singer’s requests to stop selling their products, and that their items not only confuse consumers but have caused the pop star irreparable harm.

While the Feyoncé site sells a variety of shirts, hoodies, tank tops and other clothing items, the suit singles out a mug stamped with the phrase, “Feyoncé: He put a ring on it.” Ostensibly a pun on “fiancé,” the lawsuit claims the mug was specifically designed to invoke Beyoncé’s 2008 hit, “Single Ladies.”

The lawsuit reads: “Defendants’ conduct described herein is intentional, fraudulent, malicious, willful and wanton.” The suit also alleges that one defendant, Andre Maurice, tried to trademark “Feyoncé” twice, both with and without the accent over the “e.”

The lawsuit comes a year after Beyoncé’s lawyers reportedly complained to Etsy about one purveyor hawking “Feyoncé” mugs. While those items were promptly removed from the seller’s e-marketplace, other products emblazoned with “Feyoncé” remained widely available.

Their bridal T-shirts and coffee mugs are still emblazoned with the word Feyoncé and the phrase “He liked it so he put a ring on it.” The case is in court now…but the online shop is still selling…

Source: Rollingstone.com