Do you think celebrities should be allowed to trademark their names?

Question

There is currently a lawsuit filed by Keith Urban against a lesser know Keith Urban for copyright infringement. The lesser know Urban is a New Jersey painter and his website, www.keithurban.com, is used to sell his artwork.

What do you think?

Answer 1

You know, after I read the article about that situation yesterday, I at first thought, "Wow, how can you stop someone with a particular name from using that name as the domain name of a website?" But the article went on to state that the lawsuit that Urban filed was because the website caused "confusion" in that people MIGHT think that the "real" Keith Urban was somehow "connected" to the website, and was in some way endorsing the product sold on it.

I think that is a reasonable concern for a celebrity. If you were a famous celeb, and someone with your same exact first and last names started a website for people into bestiality, or realistic sex toys, or anti-semetism, wouldn't you be opposed to it, because people might think that you were in some way involved? I think you would.

What is the answer? I don't know. A fair balance, however, has to be struck between a person's right to use their own name in commerce, regardless of who else has that name, and a well-known person's right not to be confused with people with the same name who might be selling who-knows-what, under that name.

Answer 2

No, because how self-absorbed do you have to be to assume that you're the only person in the world with your name?

As for the lawsuit in question, I think it's stupid because Keith Urban the painter has had his site since 1999 before anyone even knew who Keith Urban the singer was, so he should be able to keep his site, but add a disclaimer saying that he is not Keith Urban the singer (this is probably what the courts will decide in the end).

Answer 3

How can you copyright a name? That is a bunch of bull, especially considering most celebrities use stage names. You should be able to name your kid whatever you want, whether or not a celebrity already has that name.

Answer 4

no because someone can like be walking in the street and say hey keith urban and the famous kieth can be across the street and run over and say AHA im sueing you because you stole my name

Answer 5

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Answer 6

No, that's stupid and weird. How they gonna tell someone they can't use their name. Especially if someone else had it before them. Regular people can't trademark their names, if everyone did then we would eventually run out of names! So if regular people can't do it then celebs shouldn't either!

Answer 7

I think that is totally stupid, There are billions of people with so many names of course others are going to have their name why the hell does everyone think they have to sue each other

Answer 8

no, they shouldn't be able to trademark their names. there is alot of people who share names in this world.

Answer 9

no cause thousands of other people have the same freakin name

Answer 10

Absolutely not.