Pink has filed legal action against Pharrell Williams over his attempts to trademark the term “P.Inc” — a case that comes just weeks after Pharrell was hit with a similar trademark dispute case by a longtime friend.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court, lawyers for Pink (real name Alecia Moore) claim that the trademark Pharrell is trying to register is so similar to her stage name that it is “likely to confuse, mistake and/or deceive” consumers who see it.
The case was filed by Pink's company, Lefty Paw Print, which holds several trademark registrations in its name, against Pharrell's company, PW IP Holdings. Representatives for Pharrell did not immediately return a request for comment.
The new legal battle comes less than a month after Pharrell accepted the same type of trademark action Chad Hugo, his longtime production partner and childhood friend. Hugo claims Pharrell is “fraudulently” seeking sole control of the trademarks of 'The Neptunes' – the name of their prolific 2000 songwriting partnership – even though they have always split the group's assets.
At the time, Pharrell's representatives said he was “taken aback” by Hugo's accusations and that his “Neptunes” trademark applications were designed solely to “make sure a third party doesn't take over the trademark.” Hugo's lawyers rejected that explanation, calling the trademark applications “a land grab in a long-simmering dispute.”
At issue in the new case is an application to register “P.Inc” as a federal trademark, which its lawyers say it intends to use for a wide range of services, including “music marketing promotion services.” Trademark registration is what allows brands to put the (R) symbol next to their name and makes it easier to sue people who use it without permission.
The application was filed last year by PW IP Holdings LLC, Pharrell's company that also owns such trademark registrations for his band NERD, his Goodtime Hotel in Miami and several other brands associated with the superstar.
Pink's lawyers did not immediately return a request for comment on the controversy.
Even before Pink filed her case on Thursday, Pharrell's application for “P. Inc” trademark had already sparked a legal challenge from another entity that has prominently used the name “Pink” for its products.
That would be Victoria's Secret, which since 2002 has sold a line of pink underwear and clothing. The retail giant filed its own case against Pharrell's company last month, making similar arguments that Pharrell's trademark would be confusingly similar to his name.
“Opponent's use of the marks 'Victoria's Secret PINK' and 'PINK' predates applicant's filing date,” the company's lawyers wrote in a March 21 filing. “Applicant's mark is very similar and is the phonetic equivalent of the opponent's “PINK'' marks.”
