(AllHipHop News) What happens when the name of two superstar producers’ respective companies include two of the same words? A legal battle of course. Reports began to circulate last week that The Black Eye Peas frontman will.i.am is suing Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes for copyright infringement.
[ALSO READ: Here I. am: Will.i.am sues Pharrell over “i am OTHER”, Claims He Owns “I AM”]
Reportedly, Will claimed that he owns all rights to the phrase “I AM,” and Pharrell’s “I am OTHER” was infringing on his trademark. While will.i.am later tweeted that he never intended to sue Pharrell, TMZ is now reporting that Will did send Pharrell a cease and desist letter warning the N.E.R.D. member that P’s title was too similar to his own.
Pharrell’s response was to take Will to court over the matter. According to the AP, Pharrell filed legal papers in federal court in New York City asking a judge to grant him permission to continue using the name “I am OTHER.”
TMZ obtained the court documents that apparently include a reference to Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham where Pharrell quotes “Sam I am. I am Sam. I am Sam. Sam I am.” P was trying to show that Will’s use of “I Am” was just a play on his name.
His suit goes on to say that his use of the phrase “I am” is in a completely different context.
“In contrast, the I Am Other mark means ‘I am something else,’ leaving what that ‘else’ is to the imagination of the consumer. It certainly does not mean ‘I am Will.'”
