(AllHipHop News) Lawyers for world-famous producer Dr. Dre are attempting to prevent an upcoming producer from using his approved trademark, claiming it is too similar to the famous producer’s own name.
Producer Drew “DiamondDRE” Reyes received approval for his “DiamondDRE” trademark in April of 2007.
He put his trademark into use in 2010 and in late 2011, lawyers for the rapper contacted DiamondDRE’s attorney, threatening to cancel the mark.
A legal battle has now ensued over Dr. Dre’s assertion to own all rights to any trademark using the capitalized word “DRE,” which he has owned as a trademarked since 1981.
“‘DiamondDRE’ is my stage name and my artistic identity, and Dr. Dre’s attorney is arguing that my mark will cause confusion with his client, Mr. Andre Young (aka Dr. Dre),” Drew “DiamondDRE” Reyes told AllHipHop.com. “He’s threatening me by promising to petition to cancel my service mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, if I don’t comply with his terms. How can anyone confuse “Dr. Dre” with “DiamondDRE”?
Dr. Dre’s attorney Robert Becker sees things a bit different.
According to documents sent to DiamondDRE’s attorney Theresa V. Johnson, Esq., Dre’s lawyer Robert Becker believes that the capitalization of the word “DRE” in name is where the confusion in the trademarks arise.
“Given our clients fame in the music business as both a producer and performer, particularly with regard to Hip-Hop, in which your client is also active, any use by a performer of the name or mark DRE or of a name or mark that contains DRE, maybe confused with him,” Becker told DiamondDre’s lawyer. “But your client’s mark is particularly likely to be confused with our client, because your client is emphasizing DRE over the rest of the mark.”
Dr. Dre’s lawyer maintained that they were not being heavy-handed, they were simply trying to protect their valuable trademark, which is used in commerce on a variety of products, including phones, headphones, computers and tablets.
Dre’s lawyer also said that Reyes could use the “DiamondDre” name, as long as he never emphasized the letters “DRE.”
“Because our client respects fellow musicians and producers and prefers to resolve conflicts amicably, our client is willing to refrain from filing a petition to cancel your client’s registration… provided your client agrees to always present his mark – both online and in the brick and mortar world – as “Diamonddre or DIAMONDDRE.”
Still, Dr. Dre’s position is not sitting well with Reyes, who stated that he would continue to use the name, until Dr. Dre took formal legal action.
And even then, he vowed to fight the lawsuit.
“There’s no telling how many other artists he may have been blocked in the past…I REFUSE to let any person, regardless of whom they are or their status, to bully me; I don’t know if it’s because of some apprehensive complex you [Dr. Dre] may have, whether it’s cause you’re afraid another artist named “DRE” may outshine you or become fans of another artist’s work
besides your own. But I will tell you this…my name is DiamondDRE.”
DiamondDRE’s lawyer was a bit more diplomatic when approaching the matter with Dr. Dre’s lawyer.
“We do not wish to engage in a battle with your client unless you try to bar Mr. Reyes from using his mark DiamondDRE anyway he deems appropriate,” Theresa V. Johnson, Esq said. “We respectfully ask that you leave Mr. Reyes alone as his business venture is in no way a threat to “the world-famous music producer, rapper and musical entertainer Andre Young.”
Check out the lawyer correspondence below:
