If you sold your business and gave permission to use your surname on this business is there a way to stop the?

Question

The original owner is a performer and no longer wants his name associated with this business

I"m wondering if there is something under intellectual rights.

Answer 1

If you licensed the use of your name (which is the legal term for "permission") for a business you sold, you cannot revoke it, unless the license was for a limited time or had such conditions as periodic payment for use, which were violated.

Answer 2

You can do most things thru negotiation.
It depends on how long that new business has been going on. I mean maybe the new owner has put into the business a lot of effort advertising his new business with the old name. I would assume that the negotiation would be successful if you paid him for his losses since you originally agreed they could use that surname. To make sure it goes thru I would assume you would need to do it thru the courts (maybe even hire an attorney so lots of costs involved on your part if you were the past owner). Otherwise what's left is negotiating face to face with that person and pay his losses....but, again, do it all in an agreement form on paper. Initially the old owner could start out with a letter to the new owner (certified mail return receipt) an wait for the new owner's response before hiring an attorney.

Answer 3

If he gave written permission and you have it, then there is probably not much he can do now.
But if it was verbal and nothing was in writing, you may not be able to prove that he indeed gave permission.
If it was verbal, was there a witness to this verbal agreement? Otherwise it's just your word against his.

Answer 4

So basically what you are asking is if it is ok to have lied when he/she sold the business?

Not sure about the law but ethics would say .. live up to your word.