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

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."

Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 14) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. 29. Oh, please. IMO, her contributions to Double Fantasy ruined the record. She really needs to mind her own business. IMO, she did more to ruin Lennon's name than anything else. I have no problem with what Murphy is doing.

Posted at 2:26PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Number nine, number nine, number nine.

WELL SAID!!!! SHE RUINED HIM!!!

Posted at 2:27PM on Feb 11th 2008 by laaa

32. All We Are Saying.......Is Go Trim Your Snatch

Posted at 2:28PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Yoko's Hairy Bush

33. Hey! That gives me an idea.... my co-worker just named their new baby John. My husband's name is John! I'M GOING TO SUE THEM FOR USING THE SAME NAME! There can only be ONE John!

Posted at 2:29PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Im just sayin....

34. Sigh...it is really too bad Mark David Chapman had such good aim..if only he had erred a bit to one side...sigh

Posted at 2:31PM on Feb 11th 2008 by conspiracy

35. Go sue the communists too. Lenin is dead too. Does she want to wipe his name from his headstone too? lol

Posted at 2:35PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Yucko

36. She is just riding him and his name for everything its worth. Has this women done ANYTHING in her lifetime? She comes out with those stupid dark glasses and her hats. Get a life chick

Posted at 2:48PM on Feb 11th 2008 by horsehungboston

37. Good Lord... on classmates.com there are at least 188 John Lennon's (some Jon) listed. No telling how many there are in the world. I guess she better get her suit filing finger ready. That ought to kill her since time hasn't. She's still hungry for publicity.

Posted at 2:35PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Dyna

38. 33. Hey! That gives me an idea.... my co-worker just named their new baby John. My husband's name is John! I'M GOING TO SUE THEM FOR USING THE SAME NAME! There can only be ONE John!

Posted at 2:29PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Im just sayin....

Too funny!

Posted at 2:35PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Yucko

39. No wonder she's suing, just googled her, Lennon Murphy is a female, and pretty good lookin', no wonder that
screaching jap lesbo hates her.

Posted at 2:36PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Mike Kochertz

40. to #12
when I hear the name monica I think of Bill Clintion and his girlfriend Monica. Does that mean you should not be allowed to use your name? If she called her band John Lennon it would be wrong but she used her name Lennon. By the way, what about John Lennon's older son should he change his last name because people will associate it with John?

Posted at 2:36PM on Feb 11th 2008 by mary

41. In the Social Security Death Index, there are over 3,000 Lennons. I guess Yoko should get busy then.

Posted at 2:38PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Sue

42.
What a betch. I guess John took the easy way out.

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


You've got to be kidding!!!??? Took the easy way out????!!!! He was MURDERED!!!!! I also believe that as his widow, Yoko Ono holds not only the rights to his name but also to his music. And yes you can copyright a name, i.e. Chanel, Dale Earnhardt, etc.

Posted at 4:07PM on Feb 11th 2008 by UBUIBI

43. OMG ... DYING OVAH HEAH!

"32. All We Are Saying.......Is Go Trim Your Snatch"

Posted at 2:28PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Yoko's Hairy Bush

THAT'S BA-EUUUUUTIFUL!

Posted at 2:40PM on Feb 11th 2008 by God You're All Idiots

44. Uh, you can copyright a name if it doubles as a trademark. Frank Sinatra once sued another guy named Sinatra for opening a restaurant called Sinatra's. Frank won.

I say go Yoko! She's done a lot of good in preserving John Lennon's legacy and keeping his music and likeness in the forefront of pop culture (sometimes for the worse, but most times for the better). Most people who hate her and talk crap about her don't even know why they hate her. They just do because "Hating Yoko" is fashionable.

Posted at 2:41PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Pokey

45. That is the girl's real name too: Lennon Ann Murphy who was named after John Lennon. Yoko should be proud that someone named their kid after an icon. Sheesh...

Posted at 2:41PM on Feb 11th 2008 by Sue Again

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