US Band Forced To Change Name Over Domain Dispute
May 18, 1 Comment - Author: Simon JohnsonIowa based band, Lazy Boy & The Recliners have been performing since 1994. Their website, lazyboyandtherecliners.com was created 10 years later in 2004. As you can imagine, they were shocked to receive a cease and desist letter from La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE: lzb)
Vocalist Kevin Hanick told Press-Citizen, the letter read:
“We believe that your use of the name Lazy Boy and the Recliners and use and registration of the domain name lazyboyandtherecliners.com constitute trademark infringement and federal unfair competition in violation of the Lanham Act and at common law and may constitute dilution under the federal Trademark Dilution Revision Act.”
Rather than fight the issue, the band decided to change its name to The Reclinders and negotiated a donation of $2,500 the nonprofit organization, Summer of the Arts. The organization oversees many free events including the Friday Night Concert Series, Iowa Arts Festival and Iowa City Jazz Festival.
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Facebook comments:
They went after the guy that was selling a “moterized” Lazy Boy as well. Made ebay pull the auction because it wasn’t a “real” Lazy Boy. As if that would make a moterized recliner sell for more than a non-brand name moterized recliner…!
Here is another case of a clueless company not realizing the VALUE of someone using their trademark in a NON-HARMFUL way. It’s the kind of the publicity that is expensive to buy, even if it was possible to purchase it!