Celebrity Justice
Yoko to Rocker -- Ono You Can't Use Your Name!

Posted Feb 11th 2008 1:36PM by TMZ Staff

A hard-working heavy-metal-rocker is in danger of losing her musical identity -- all because Yoko Ono wants to bring a silver hammer down on her for using the name Lennon.
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Lennon Murphy, a singer-songwriter whose band is called Lennon, has been sued by Yoko for "tarnishment" of her widow's name and for "fraudulently" registering the name as a trademark.

Ono, claims in court papers that Murphy is (intentionally) exploiting the name and confusing people by using it -- and wants her trademark canceled.

Murphy shoots back on her MySpace page that Yoko and her lawyer were asked back in 2000 about using the name for her debut CD on Arista Records, and they didn't object. Lennon (the band) has since been dropped by Arista, but continues to record. "If Yoko prevails," writes Lennon Murphy, "Lennon might never be able to tour or release records using the name Lennon."

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music


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1. I can't stand that Yoko!

Posted at 2:11PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Victoria

2. What a betch. I guess John took the easy way out.

Posted at 2:12PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Jason

3. Get over it Yoko.....sheesh....it happens to be her name as well.....

Posted at 2:13PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Candice

4. Yoko Ono doesn't own the name Lennon. How about the Lennon Sisters back in the day?

Posted at 2:13PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Katie

5. The reminds me when Angelina Jolie was trying to sue someone for putting out a perfume called "Shiloh".

Posted at 2:14PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Laurel

6. Oh fer gawd sake next she will be filin papers againsty russia for their dead lennons use of lennon...seems like yoko's yoyo has its string wrapped a bit to tight these days...everyone is chokin up our courts with silly law suits...no one could mistake a female artist who is alive and in her twenties with yokos dead husband,...unless the artist is trying to make people think she is male and dead and a former beetle

Posted at 2:15PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Cat

7. self important bitch! a real C U iN Toledo!

Posted at 2:16PM on Feb 11th 2008 by And a large order of fries

8. Screw yoko, she cuckolded John, made him move to NY or he was not able to see his son.
Then he was killed! That was a very very bad day!
Deport yoko! She has no talent, broke up the Beatles and messed up John for life!

Posted at 2:16PM on Feb 11th 2008 by sd

9. When is going to die..Jeezzz 2008 and still alive! how?!

Posted at 2:16PM on Feb 11th 2008 by R

10. Yoko, if it meant THAT much to you, YOU should have trademarked the name a long time ago.
Leave the poor girl alone and let her have her name.

Posted at 2:16PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Mickie

11. If I name my child Lennon, is Yoko going to sue me too? Pfffft

Posted at 2:17PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Rowan

12. When you hear the name, Lennon, you picture John. I think she makes sense that it would cause some confusion. When I heard that the band was named, Lennon, I thought that they were doing Beatles songs or were a tribute band. I think they should change their name and eliminate the confusion and show respect for one of the greatest band members to ever live.

Posted at 2:17PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Monica

13. She can't trademark just the name Lennon, but maybe "John Lennon". There are plenty of people around the world named Lennon. She will have to sue them to change their last names. She is a selfish idiot.

Posted at 2:18PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Rowan

14. Give me a break! You cant copyright a name. Greedy Biatch!

Posted at 2:19PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Jumpinjackflash

15. Lennon Murphy registered the name Lennon as a trademark. Yoko has every right to sue her. GO YOKO!

Posted at 2:19PM on Feb 11th 2008 by cinebarbarian

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