Eminem is fighting a civil lawsuit over the Shady
Ltd. name that is featured on his new clothing line.
Shady Inc., a small Nevada based company, filed
the lawsuit in Nevada federal court, claiming that they have been using the
name since for their clothing since late 1999.
Shady Inc. did not register the trademark until
2001.
Shady Inc. targets the sports apparel market,
selling T-Shirts and hats in Nevada stores and through the Internet and mail
order.
Eminem’s lawyers contend that the Shady name
is associated with Eminem so frequently, that it should have never been granted
to the Nevada company in the first place.
"We were first and we used it in good faith,"
co-owner Thomas Hession told the Detroit Free Press. "We did not know at
the time that Eminem was planning clothes."
Eminem’s lawyer, Manny Pokotilow, said that Eminem
has been using the name since 1999 on record and that the rapper registered
the Slim Shady trademark in 1999.
"We consider this a very frivolous claim
that has been made," Pokotilow said. "It is what I would call a hit
suit, which is in order to take advantage of somebody’s celebrity status."
Eminem’s clothing is currently available in over
400 stores nationwide.
In related news, the rapper is expected to draw
over 90,000 people to his shows today (July 12) and Sunday at Detroit’s Ford
Field.
The show will also feature 50 Cent and Missy
Elliot.
