So it seems Yoko Ono has been doing more these days than watching Cirque du Soleil’s Love and wearing oversized glasses: she’s also suing a Tennessee singer-songwriter who goes by Lennon Murphy for her use of the “Lennon” name. Ono’s lawsuit seeks to prevent Murphy from using “Lennon” due to the confusion it could cause in the marketplace.
This handy side by side analysis, however, proves that, name or not, there’s little chance these two artists could be confused:
|
JOHN LENNON
|
LENNON MURPHY
|
|
Was the walrus. |
Is a fox. |
|
Was a visionary songwriter who shattered the boundaries of conventional pop music. |
Seems to have really nice breasts. |
|
I own every Beatles Album. |
I placed the link to the above photo in my favorites. |
|
Collaborated with Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Elton John, and Phil Spector. |
Sang Britney’s “Hit Me Baby One More Time” at TGI Friday’s Karaoke Night. |
|
Meditated with the Maharishi. |
Ate Indian food. Once. At the mall. Didn’t care for it. |
|
Made me want to imagine no possessions |
Makes me want to imagine sodomy. |
|
Often mistaken as the Beatle who wrote Yesterday |
Often mistaken. |
|
Screwed by Yoko Ono. |
Screwed by Yoko Ono. |
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September 4th, 2009 at 6:44 am
Thanks for providigne with a fresh new reason to hate Yoko Ono. P.S. I once saw singer Lennon (on right) open for Alice Cooper
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:05 am
michaelx: pauls voice is absolutely beautiful. the beatles are absolutely fantastic. and you’re an absolute idiot.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:21 am
Who still listens to the Beatles? I am abwhored by Paul’s voice, and never want to hear it again. Yo-Ko O-No is just that, a hack, and a no talent groupie who put out for John. Cuz no one else would take her on! Beatlemaniacs are a sorry blight on the music world. “Come together” you bunch of circle-jerks.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Who CARES which one’s the walrus?!?
July 31st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
John had written the line “The Walrus was Paul” not as a way to fuck with the people who “analyzed” Beatles songs (He’d written the original “I Am the Walrus” for that) but as a somewhat halfhearted attempt to show people that he and Paul McCartney didn’t hate each other’s guts.
Which they did, at the time. But he tried.
The Walrus really was John. He’d somehow connected with the Walrus from Lewis Carroll’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter.”
In his song “God” he has the line “I was the Walrus, but now I’m John.”
May 26th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I like your website; I will share this with friends
February 24th, 2009 at 8:53 am
here’s a clue to you all
the walrus was paul
lennon’s my favorite beatle, despite him not having a really funny awesome othername like paul’s walrus or eggman or wtever
“they were right when they said you were dead”
-lennon
October 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
another reason to hate on Ono
September 24th, 2008 at 10:12 am
“The Beatles” eh? didnt they have that tv show in the 60’s and one of them had a mom who invented Liquid Paper?
Meh, they’re no Slipknot
September 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
What about Ringo? He was awesome, too!
July 4th, 2008 at 9:03 am
The one arguement that has too be made is to compare John and Pauls solo careers. Both were signifigantly worse than the beatles but Johns was far more important and much better. Seriously, compare “Rock Show” with “Strange Days”. Lennon wins in terms of solo career and is in my opinion a better songwriter while with The Beatles.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I know it’s been a long time since anyone was debating this here, but I thought I’d chime in on the “who wrote what” debate.
Lifelong Beatles fan and armchair scholar, here. Years ago I read a book that examined the Beatles catalog based on all known information on whether Lennon or McCartney wrote more of the Beatles catalog. What they found was that Lennon wrote significantly more during the pre-Rubber Soul days. Check out A Hard Day’s Night, for example - it’s mostly John songs. But around Help and Rubber Soul, things start evening out. Then McCartney passes John during the crucial Revolver/Pepper experimental era - which, incidentally, goes against conventional wisdom that Lennon was the more experimental Beatle. This switch could be attributed to Macca really coming into his own and Lennon’s depression and interest in drugs through that period. Toward the end, they found that Lennon and McCartney started to even out and got about the same amount of cuts per record (with Harrison contributing more than before, of course.) All told, it seems Lennon wrote a small amount more than McCartney - I believe the final tally was about 5 to 10 percent more of the entire Lennon/McCartney catalog - but most of that is attributable to his utter dominance in the early period of the band. Counting from Rubber Soul forward, Paul has a slight advantage.
So the winner is John, by a nose, but Paul’s contributions are still undeniably crucial to the success and survival of the mid and late eras of the band.
That analysis rings true to me when I look at the catalog. After John’s death, there was a rush to attribute every Beatles’ greatness to him, partly in tribute to his formidable talent and partly out of grief. But the truth is, Lennon and McCartney were pretty much equally great. They certainly viewed themselves as equals throughout their time in the Beatles - a courtesy they didn’t pay to Harrison, for instance. It’s easy to pick on McCartney because he had the audacity to not be murdered and the audacity to put out some syrupy to terrible solo albums. But the truth is that neither John or Paul did as well without each other. And I think, had John lived, they would have eventually realized this and patched things up.
Last point: Everyone has their favorite Beatle, but it’s utterly stupid to play your favorite against the others. My two favorites are Paul and John, because they were clearly the two most talented (due love to George, though). To love one at the expense of the other is either being: a) naive, b) replaying a feud that lasted for a few years in the early seventies that was mostly not about music, but about money, or c) holding their post-Beatles musical mistakes against their seminal work from the 60s. It’s an emotional ride to, for instance, claim that Lennon was the only talented Beatle. But the facts don’t bear that out. I recommend anyone inclined to take that stance reexamine their Beatles albums. No one is going to fault you for loving all four of the Beatles and their contributions.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I don’t like her.
I like big curvy beauties @ P l u s M e e t . c om_____, a wonderful online club for big boob women, big booty women and big manful guys to mingle and seek fun&more!
April 25th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
@ Dawn: Read the comments. Several people have said John Lennon said that lyric from Glass Onion was meant to frick with the fans who analyze Beatles lyrics too much. In fact, I’m pretty sure the whole song was meant for that.
@ Ronsonic: It is pronounced “Goo Goo gajoob”, NOT “Coo Coo Catchoo” Listen for the “b” sound next time you hear it. EDIT: Actually, the “b” sound is not obvious. So listen for the “G” sound instead.
@ Luddy: What’s a deed poll? If it’s like a petition, I’d sign that one (and that ass) in a heartbeat. :>
April 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
The Walrus was Paul, my dear friend.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
ummm …. MonkeyButt, copyright != trademark … mkay?
April 4th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Personally, I think she should change her surname by deed poll to ‘McCartney’. Now , that would give the lawyers something to do.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
“It’s all there, if you look for the clues. That OPD patch Paul had on the inside cover of Sgt Peppers? No, it doesn’t stand for Ontario Police Department”
Actually the patch is OPP and it stands for Ontario Provincial Police
March 10th, 2008 at 3:01 am
rihanna and…
Thanks for the nice read, keep up the interesting posts…..
March 9th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Carpet Boy…
…
March 5th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Despite the fact that I am exhausted from reading the entry posted by “true,” I would venture that Yoko Ono is and always has been a glorified groupie whose claims to be an “artiste” are without merit, given her utter lack of talent in any genre, especially art and song.
Oh, and she’s an arrogant, selfish bitch for suing someone whose birth name is “Lennon.” What an asshole. John could have done a lot better.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I personally think that George is the best Beatle. Sure he didn’t put in as much as John or Paul but i find his stuff to be the best, just look at While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something, Here Comes the Sun, and many more really good songs. And he had a great career after the Beatles also. But that is just my opinion
February 27th, 2008 at 4:49 am
Where’s the love for Ringo?
February 26th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for all of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars. Transfered FROM US TO THEM. Over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They will never settle for a reasonable share of ANYTHING. They will do whatever it takes to get even richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductable crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. So don’t fall for all of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductable contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah, Ellen, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTABLE PR CRAP. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. EXTREME WEALTH HAS MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
February 25th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Here is the Legal problem no one here has stated. This is totally a litigation in the sense of how the Trademark board deals with these matters. Ms. Murphy still must hire a trademark lawyer to respond to the filing and protect the trademark she was granted over 5 years ago, through proper legal means. Yoko and any other person had ample time as the law provides to take action to stop the mark from being granted before Ms. Murphy received it. Not only was no action taken, she never made any attempt to assert her rights for a 5 year period after Ms. Murphy had the mark. Even worse Ms. Murphy claims that Yoko was aware of her 3 years prior to receiving the mark. Instead Yoko waited until 2 days before the statute of limitations is up before making a fuss. Yoko’s problem is she has no legal standing to make such a claim, no more so then you do. She doesn’t claim infringement, because there is none or she would have filed an infringement suit. She only claims dilution in the filing because she has to in order to even make the claim with the board, even if its not factual. The Board is going to puke on Yoko, and she will be lucky if Ms. Murphy doesn’t file a malicious litigation suit when this is all said and done.
February 24th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
From “Timotheus”:
“I still think a Beatles reunion is possible.”
Of course it is…just parole Mark David Chapman…
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
hand a dagger…
Skeleton handled knives are often wrapped with parachute cord or other wrapping materials to enhance grip. The handle can also include…
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Actually, as it turns out, I’m one of those people who posts on blogs. Not only that, but apparently I follow up too.
The issue is : How can anyone get a trademark on a name? or a color (pepsi). Who thinks this is right? Or even a phrase - thats weird and rather stupid. It really bothers me. Apparently. Since I’m commenting on it twice.
I feel silly about having a short attention span and an reposting someones earlier comment:
” Yoko did not sue Lennon Murphy, but sought to stop her from getting the exclusive right to the name Lennon for performance purposes. For that, Yoko’s attorneys, simply notified the Trademark office that Yoko did not believe it was fair that Ms. Murphy be granted the exclusive right to the “Lennon” trademark in relation to musical and entertainment services. As you can see, this is a very important issue for Yoko and the Lennon family.”
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Doesn’t the fact that someone can sue over a name imply that there is something incredibly wrong with our COPYRIGHT system?
WhyTF is anyone defending yoko? So she can get more money? Its rather awesome that this chick is capitalizing on the Lennon name. Why not? Hes so famous I doubt there will be any real mix up - which shouldn’t even be the point- the significance of this is that we need to change our obsolete laws… plus, most of you use the piratebay’s services, thus you should justify your copyright beliefs. Personally, I don’t accept the bs of “intellectual property” - screw making money on denying knowledge to people. It should be free, or subsidized
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Dericco…
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read….
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:36 am
Online Dating BENNETT…
Haha. I remember this online dating chick I meet that is similar…
February 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I was OK with Yoko, until I heard her contributions to Double Fantasy.
After that crime, I have been more inclined to believe she was capable of other intolerable acts of cruelty.
I still think a Beatles reunion is possible. Julian and Sean Lennon, Dhani Harrison, Paul and Ringo of course and maybe some surviving Wilburys, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty.
But no singing by Yoko
February 20th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Dear Friends
A musician named Lennon Murphy is claiming that Yoko Ono has sued her and that Yoko is seeking to stop Lennon Murphy from performing under her name, Lennon Murphy. Both of these claims are untrue.
Several years ago, Lennon Murphy sought Yoko’s permission to do her performances under her name, Lennon Murphy. Yoko, of course, did not object to her request. Subsequently, without Yoko’s knowledge, Lennon Murphy filed an application in the United States trademark Office requesting the exclusive right to utilize the name “Lennon” for musical performances. Yoko’s attorneys asked Lennon Murphy’s attorneys and manager to withdraw her registration of exclusivity to the name LENNON for the trademark. Yoko also offered to cover all costs Lennon Murphy had incurred in filing for the trademark. But Lennon Murphy went ahead to register.
Yoko did not sue Lennon Murphy, but sought to stop her from getting the exclusive right to the name Lennon for performance purposes. For that, Yoko’s attorneys, simply notified the Trademark office that Yoko did not believe it was fair that Ms. Murphy be granted the exclusive right to the “Lennon” trademark in relation to musical and entertainment services. As you can see, this is a very important issue for Yoko and the Lennon family.
Yoko says: “I am really hurt if people thought that I told a young artist to not use her own name in her performances and had sought to sue her. I did no such thing. I hope this allegation will be cleared.”
Thank you for your kind attention,
Yoko
February 20th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Um, I’m pretty sure “lawsuits” are not what gets Lennon Murphy noticed the most. I’m actually positive. I’ve been staring at these photos very carefully.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:26 am
This is probably the best thing that could have happened to Lennon Murphy. The irritation of the lawsuit aside, this is the kind of publicity that gets her band noticed. In initiating a lawsuit, Yoko has kind of shot herself in the foot.
February 19th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Best thread I’ve read all week.
February 19th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Here’s what “contactmusic.com” has reported on this story thus far.
*note: Subsequent Julian story posted prior.
————————————————————
JOHN LENNON - ONO SUES LENNON
Late BEATLE JOHN LENNON’s widow YOKO ONO is suing a singer/songwriter for naming her band LENNON. Ono has filed court papers accusing rocker Lennon Murphy of fraudulently registering Lennon as a trademark and for the “tarnishment” and exploitation of her late husband’s name. The 74-year-old wants the trademark cancelled, reports TMZ.com. However, Murphy insists Ono and her lawyer approved the use of the name Lennon for her debut album in 2000. Murphy writes on her page on website MySpace: “If Yoko prevails, Lennon might never be able to tour or release records using the name Lennon.” John Lennon was shot dead in New York City in December 1980.
11/02/2008 10:01
————————————————————
JOHN LENNON - ONO DENIES SUING LENNON
LATEST: Late BEATLE JOHN LENNON’s widow YOKO ONO has slammed “hurtful” reports claiming she is suing a singer/songwriter for naming her band LENNON. Ono was reported to have filed court papers accusing rocker Lennon Murphy of fraudulently registering Lennon as a trademark and for the “tarnishment” and exploitation of her late husband’s name. But the 74-year-old insists she has not taken legal action against Murphy - she simply tried to stop her from getting the exclusive rights to use the name Lennon for performance purposes by notifying the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ono says, “I am really hurt if people thought that I told a young artist to not use her own name in her performances and had sought to sue her. I did no such thing. I hope this allegation will be cleared.” John Lennon was shot dead in New York City in December 1980.
14/02/2008 04:26
February 19th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
maybe yoko has a repressed desire to be a linebacker and she’s just practicing with all this “block” ing she’s doing here of late.
YOKO ONO - ONO BLOCKS PLANS FOR LENNON FILM
YOKO ONO has vetoed a film writer’s request to use the songs of her late husband JOHN LENNON in a new film about the couple’s 1969 trip to Scotland - because the holiday evokes “bad memories” for the widow. Derek Yeaman, a film location manager and screenwriter, had applied for the rights to use the Beatle’s music in the movie Mhari And The Lennons, a fictional story about the rocker’s impact on the local community. Yeaman wrote the script after discovering Lennon had become friends with a minister from the Free Church of Scotland. But his request was turned down by Ono - who owns the rights to all of Lennon’s songs - because the couple’s trip to the nation resulted in Lennon spending five days in hospital following a car crash in the small village of Golspie. He was treated for facial injuries and received 17 stitches, while Ono had 14 for cuts to her forehead. Explaining her refusal, Ono’s lawyer Peter Shukat said it was “not the most pleasant event” in the couple’s lives, adding: “She felt that the story would not reflect greatly on anybody and she just wasn’t happy for it. We wouldn’t authorise the licence of John’s music - and she controls John’s music. And I don’t believe without Yoko’s approval Sony/ATV would licence The Beatles’ music.” Lennon was assassinated in New York in 1980, aged 40.
21/01/2008 07:12
February 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
from contactmusic.com:
LATEST: JOHN LENNON’s son JULIAN has hit out at his stepmother YOKO ONO for objecting to a singer/songwriter for naming her band LENNON. Ono, 74, has tried to prevent rocker Lennon Murphy from gaining the exclusive rights to use the name Lennon for performance purposes by notifying the United States Patent and Trademark Office. But Julian - the late Beatle’s son from his first marriage to Cynthia Lennon - sympathises with Murphy and has publicly stated his backing for the rising star. He says, “I feel for her and know the situation well. She has my full support.”
19/02/2008 07:17
February 18th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Caio=Pete Best.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Lennon was a loose cannon. He was inconsistent and cared more about the latest trend then making good music. Which is not to say he wasn’t an amazing songwriter, he just never put the effort into it Paul did. Now, I imagine Paul spent most of the sixties sitting at his piano or discussing things with Martin while John Lennon was shooting up at some party with dude who was in line for the peerage.
.
Paul wrote the most songs, and he also did the arranging for most of the Lennon songs. Half the time John bought some lyrics and a melody into the studio, then left Paul to arrange and record it while Mr. White Suit went shooting up and spending hours on his clothes and hair. Oh, and beating up women.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Paul is NOT the walrus. See earlier comments. John was fucking with you with “Glass Onion”
He acknowledged that in a lost Lennon tape interview. Any bigger Beatles geek out there than I want to provide a link or verification on that? Please go ahead.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Paul is the walrus! Coo Coo Catchoo, motherfucker!
February 18th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Actually, Paul is the Walrus as referenced to in Glass Onion on “The White Album”.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:23 am
actually, yoko is just trying to stop lennon from getting an exclusive copyright over the name, lennons allowed to perform by that name, but considering shes neither the first nor the best, it really doesnt seem like all the royalties every time someone uses the word should go to her
February 18th, 2008 at 12:11 am
If you read the most recent comments, it seems that YOKO is totally right and I’ve merely perpetuated an inaccurate story from Foxnews.
And i most certainly will continue to idolize BOTH Lennon and McCartney as two of the most insanely talented songwriters to grace the face of this earth.
Who they are as people? Don’t know. Doesn’t really matter to me. Kelly Clarkson seems like a nice person, but I sure as hell ain’t buying her records.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Can I trademark the name ‘Edison’?
Let’s leave out the working class hero sh*t, shall we?
Ultimtaely, JL was a very human individual - yes, he wrote some very good songs, but he was also a pathological womaniser, drug abuser, addict, class traitor (so VERY middle class) and a cr*p father and husband.
Do not idolise this man, because that is a silly thing to do.
Plus, I’m terribly sorry to break it to to you, but the man’s dead. DEAD, I tells ya. This girl, on the other hand, ain’t. Possibly quite talented. I’m not familiar with her ouevre, but she might even be quite good.
And some washed-up elderly performance artist is telling her how to use her given name? I think not.
February 17th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Vinny wrote:
>It would be nice if Ms. Lennon Murphy chose to settle this once and for all by posing naked for Playboy.
What, you don’t have a suicidegirls login?
February 17th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
By the way, that was me somewhat retardedly replying to the comments at the top of the list, rather than the more recent ones at the bottom.
My apologies, it’s all this MSG in my system.
February 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I think the main thing is that Lennon added a much needed dagger twist (like, metaphorical dagger twist. Not with an actual dagger) to a lot his work, while McCartney was a bit everything-is-wonderful.
For example, McCartney wrote most of Getting Better, but Lennon wrote the line “it can’t get no worse” in that song, which made it enjoyably sweet and sour, like Chinese pork, rather than saccharine-sweet like, well, saccharine.
That’s why everyone goes for the sweet-and-sour pork of the Beatles, rather than the barbecue chicken wings of Wings.
I worked quite hard on that joke. But it only made me hungry.
February 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Yes, that’s why Yoko’s actions –if what we’ve been told here is accurate– are completely legit.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
If Lennon Murphy were to prevail in her suit, couldn’t she conceivably make it difficult for Julian and/or Sean Lennon to perform under their own names which they “honestly” received from John Lennon?
February 17th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Gladstone: Good Article - and funny - I like breasts too.
I think the Beatles were a band back when I was a baby - but I could be wrong. Didn’t their drummer sleep with that Barbara Bach girl from James Bond? She was hot. And she had breasts too.
Many thanks to A_B, I love this kind of stuff. I should have been a lawyer when I grew up. Based on what you’re saying - Yoko is well within her rights and the breasts girl probably went a bit too far (though I imagine there is an evil attorney standing behind her wringing his hands together while smiling maniacally).
Lawsuit or no lawsuit - Yoko is still off her rocker.
It would be nice if Ms. Lennon Murphy chose to settle this once and for all by posing naked for Playboy. I’m not a lawyer - but this sounds to me like a sound legal strategy.
February 17th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
According to Wikipedia (click on my name), Lennon Murphy was named after John Lennon. Could this have a bearing on the lawsuit? Hmmm…
February 17th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Admiral Outrageous,
Lennon acknowledge that “The walrus was Paul” was a deliberately wrong lyric to F with Beatle fans.
Jenny K, that book has been criticized, but you raise a good point about timing. For me, the Beatles begin at Rubber Soul. Starting there, Paul has written more, but you raise a good point.
A_B, your post was for people with “short” attention spans??? Thanks for answering my question though. If Lennon Murphy applied for exclusivity to the “Lennon,” then as I said in my earlier comment then Yoko is completely correct.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Thanks for the exhaustive analysis, A_B. It seems like people care more for who wrote what than the actual subject matter of the article, but some of us definitely appreciate your efforts.
Looks like Yoko Ono has a very legitimate case here, even though it would seem that she’s chosen to argue it through more difficult means than necessary. Did her legal team not attack the claim that the Lennon mark is “distinctive of [the] services” of John Lennon far more so than it is for some random country singer? She may have a legitimate claim to “Lennon Murphy,” but at least I know what passes through my mind when I hear “Lennon,” and it sure as hell isn’t some small-time(?) country singer. Lennon is probably one of the most globally recognizable names around (he was a freakin’ cultural icon, and has fans literally all around the world!), whereas if you say Lennon Murphy, people will probably respond with “who?” or “did you mean John Lennon?” and/or “the Bolshevik?”
It looks like Murphy may have been setting herself up to sue the Lennon estate when they tried to publish something under the Lennon name by letting it sell, then staking a claim in the profits… backfired, much?
In any case, I can’t see how a judge (who didn’t spend the last… what… 40 years? under a rock) could uphold a trademark on “Lennon” for anyone but John Lennon.
So, in short, the suit is neither frivolous, nor ridiculous. It’s a legitimate case that should be brought up, if for no other reason than because when people in general think “Lennon,” they don’t think “random boob-jobbed (*cough cough* Ahem… I mean, extra-naturally augmented) country singer.”
February 17th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Actually, according to the song “Glass Onion”, the Walrus was Paul.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Actually, there’s a book called Beatlesongs that breaks down every song they did by percentages of who wrote what. For example, “She’s Leaving Home” on the Pepper album gives McCartney 65% credit and Lennon 35%, while “Yesterday” is 100% Paul. And the conclusion was that John wrote the majority of the Beatles songs, mostly due to their early period when he was the dominant writer. Paul caught up in the mid-60s, but John’s output was still enough to keep him slightly ahead.
Lennon: 84.55
McCartney: 73.65
And I agree - this suit’s ridiculous.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:24 am
I’ll summarize for those with short attention spans:
(1) Lennon Murphy has a very broad registration for the the trademark LENNON that would cover any musical activities of the Lennon family;
(2) A cancellation proceeding before the TTAB, even when successful, has no impact on a person’s ability to use that trademark. The owner just doesn’t have exclusive rights anymore flowing from the registration;
(3) Yoko Ono is asserting both her registrations and her common law rights to LENNON and JOHN LENNON; and
(4) Everything at the USPTO demonstrates that Ono is telling the truth, and Ms. Murphy seriously misunderstands what is going on.
With more detail:
Lennon Murphy is the owner of trademark registration no. 2676604 for use with goods in class 009, including musical sound recordings, and for services in class 041, including “entertainment services in the nature of live performances by a musical group.” This trademark was registered on 01/21/2003.
This registration allows Lennon Murphy to stop anyone else from using a similar trademark, when used in conjunction with goods or services, such that there is a likelihood of confusion in the consuming public between the source of the goods/services.
On its face, and ignoring the various defenses (e.g., priority of use), Lennon Murphy could sue members of the Lennon family for using “Lennon” for entertainment services.
What is startling is that in her declaration during the prosecution of the application, Lennon Murphy stated that her use of LENNON was from 1997 to 2002 for the listed goods and services “substantially exclusive.” That is, she alone was using the trademark LENNON for musical performances. She also declared, “As a result of my extensive use, advertising and promotion of my mark LENNON for over five years, my mark has become distinctive of my services.” In English, this means that, basically, when you hear the trademark LENNON, you think of her goods and services. See July 2002 filing.
Yoko Ono is the owner of two registrations (according to the cancellation) for the mark JOHN LENNON used with goods including paper products (Class 16) and eyewear (Class 09).
On January 18, 2008, Yoko One filed a petition to cancel Lennon Murphy’s trademark for LENNON.
This is an important point: cancellation of a trademark has no affect on a party’s ability to use the trademark. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board controls registrations in the USPTO. It does not control use or whether there is infringement, it doesn’t issue injunctions and it doesn’t levy damages. It just controls what is or isn’t registered.
Therefore, based on what is available (i.e., no evidence that Ono filed in District Court for infringement), Lennon Murphy seriously doesn’t understand what is going on, or worse. Moreover, Yoko Ono is attempting to stop Lennon Murphy from using LENNON exclusively for the listed goods and services.
The cancellation asserts, in addition to the registered trademarks, common law rights in LENNON and JOHN LENNON. This is where weldpond is completely wrong. The petition for cancellation states that:
“Petitioner is and has been for many years engaged [sic] the extensive publishing, marketing, advertising, and exploitation of the music and artwork of John Lennon. In connection therewith, petitioner has used in interstate commerce the trademarks LENNON and JOHN LENNON since long prior to registration’s date of first use of the trademark LENNON.”
Like any good attorney, all of Yoko Ono’s rights were asserted, including the ones which have very little bearing (e.g., eyewear).
The grounds for cancellation are “dilution by blurring or tarnishment” (Comment: good luck with that, dilution is very difficult to prove even with recent changes in the law), fraud in obtaining the registration because she didn’t disclose that it was her first name (Comment: They cite 15 U.S.C. 1052(e)(4), which applies to marks that are primarily merely surnames. This is for the examiner to determine. Whether or not it’s her first name (not even her surname) is not a “but for” situation. Once again, good luck with that), and also that she wasn’t using the mark in 1997 despite her declaration (Comment: if she wasn’t, and I have no idea, then yeah, canceled).
Final comment, they should have just argued that there was a likelihood of confusion with Yoko Ono’s common law rights to LENNON, which she has priority. They bury that in paragraph 10 under the “Dilution by Blurring or Tarnishment.”
February 15th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
If the basis of this post is wrong then that would mean, FOXNews –where I got the story– is wrong. Explain how THAT could be possible?
In truth, i have no problem believing the Fox story is wrong, but the link you provided is also fishy. Did Lennon Murphy seek to use the name “Lennon Murphy” exclusively? The link says just “Lennon.”
If just Lennon, then of course Yoko is right. If “Lennon Murphy” then Yoko is still off her nut.
I could investigate further, but then I’d be the journalist you’ve mistaken me for. Actually, I’m just some guy who wanted to make some jokes about Lennon Murphy’s fabulous breasts.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Hey, let’s all debate which Beatle wrote more songs and ignore the fact that the basis of this post is wrong. Lennon Murphy lied, Yoko Ono did not sue her. All Yoko did was file an eminently reasonable request with the Trademark Office that Murphy couldn’t have exclusive rights to playing music under the name “Lennon.” If you think protecting the rights of your husband’s estate is frivolous, feel free to return to reading “The Ten Most Underappreciated Smurfs”.
http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/02/yoko-ono-tells.html
February 14th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
DAMN! Katie let’s John have it!
“Most of the super popular/classic Beatles songs WERE written by McCartney ”
Unfortunately, that’s impossible to quantify.
I think we’d have to include Strawberry Fields, Day in a Life, I Am the Walrus, Nowhere Man, and Dear Prudence in your list of “super popular/classic Beatles songs” and those are all John.
(except for tiny part in Day in the Life).
Of course, you’d have to include Something and While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George.
And Yesterday, Hey Jude, Helter Skelter, Blackbird, Eleanor Rigby, and Penny Lane by Paul.
Too hard to quantify. But on the bright side, Ross has probably killed himself by now.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
“Paul McCartney died in 1966 in a car wreck”
It’s all there, if you look for the clues. That OPD patch Paul had on the inside cover of Sgt Peppers? No, it doesn’t stand for Ontario Police Department, it really stands for Officially Pronounced Dead! And why is he the only barefoot one on the cover of Abbey Road? My sister and I used to get a kick out of looking for Paul is Dead clues. Even today I can still crack her up by coming up with bizarre Paul is Dead conspiracy theories. (George Bush has his corpse on ice right next to Osama bin Laden and DB Cooper).
February 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Too Bad Mark David Chapman didn’t have bad aim.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Screw John Lennon, he was a terrible father, a huge hypocrite and a bastard in general. Most of the super popular/classic Beatles songs WERE written by McCartney and he’s an all around more important figure in music.
Let’s let sleeping dogs lie.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Paul McCartney died in 1966 in a car wreck, he was decapitated and replaced with a winner of a Paul McCartney look a like contest named William Shears Campbell.
It’s true, the internet told me so.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I think some people don’t forgive Paul for (openly) caring about the business side of things. The same problem Mick Jagger has when compared to Keith Richards*. Not very sixties, man. John and Keith appeal to people’s romanticism.
*although the answer to ‘Mick or Keith?’ is always ‘Brian’. And the best post-Beatles albums are George’s.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
If there is such a thing as a genius, Paul McCartney is one.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Perhaps Mr. McCartney and Ms. Cyrus should do a collaboration…I’d pay to see that (if I could get tickets).
February 14th, 2008 at 7:19 am
No, I’m not saying, “they sang it so, they should get credit.” I’m saying the Beatles sang the songs they wrote (for the most part).
As far as contributions though, sure they all made contributions to songs. Take John’s great opening background vocal on McCarney’s Lovely Rita. Or George’s Sitar on John’s Norweigen Wood. Or any of Paul’s absolute killer bass lines on George’s Something or John’s Dear Prudence. (McCartney also plays the drums on Dear Prudence btw.)
and phoenixphorce, I probably enjoy John’s songs a big more too. Or at least my favorite Beatle songs tend to be Lennon’s, but overall as musician and composer there is possibly no one more talented in the history of Rock as Mac.
Except maybe that chick who plays Hannah Montana.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:28 am
I don’t think it’s entirely fair to accredit a song to a particular band member just because they sung it though, even on Sgt. Peppers the songs are still mostly collaborative.
Take ‘Getting Better’ as an example. Lennons contributed the lines ‘I use to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her away from the things that she loved’. And I think we can all agree it wouldn’t really be a rock song without any reference to spousal abuse.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:10 am
Damn I’m slow. I didn’t even realize the title was a humorous reference until I moved on to another page.
Being a bit of a Beatles freak myself, I agree with Gladstone. But I enjoy John’s songs a bit better.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:05 am
There actually is a book out there i looked at once that tries to apportion everything, but i’m getting this from my head that i’ve filled with Beatles info. over the years.
The rule of thumb usually is the person who’s singing wrote it as Bryan says.
We Can Work It Out was a real collaboration with Paul on Verse and John on chorus. But tat was very rare. They didn’t write together usually.
Supposedly there is a disagreement over who wrote the music to In My Life. John wrote the lyrics, but both Paul and John claimed the music at different times.
I copied and pasted the songs off Amazon and filled in the parentheticals myself.
There’s a great book called the Complete Beatles Recording Sessions that has a lot of this too
February 13th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Gladstone, where are you getting definitive lists of who wrote what song? Not that I’m doubting your answers, but I want to go see what the deal is with the rest of the catalogue.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
It is interesting to note, however, that a man did not appear to her on a flaming pie and tell her to name her band “MURPHY”…of course, then she would be sued by transvestite transporter Eddie Murphy
February 13th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I am the eggman.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I am so hoping Les sends Lennon this post and then she starts cruising the rest of the blog. Oh, and that she has a hot Amy Winehouse with chest hair fetish.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if Gladstone started going around, well, not KILLING famous musicians per se, but maybe just giving them drugs, just so he can exploit our hero-worship.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
When you see her, Les, tell her no hard feelings. Lennon. Not Yoko.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Lennon Murphy’s been around for quite some time, and can be found at http://www.lennononline.com - I’ve played her music on my podcast, as well as interviewed her for the show.
I think it’s kinda crazy for Yoko to come in during the final hour and attempt to take Lennon’s given name (yes, it’s her real name given to her by her mother) away because she’s becoming popular in the music world. Let’s just hope that the crazy Yoko loses this silly lawsuit…
February 13th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I think we ought to be discussing Lennon’s breasts rather than the other Lennon’s songs.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Great… the Cracked Blog has been overtaken by 16 year old girls from 1967… and they’re arguing over who their favorite Beatle is.
If you need me I’ll be in the suicide room committing suicide.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
True. That’s the most McCartney-heavy album, But here’s Revolver. Still not more Lennon:
1. Taxman (Harrison)
2. Eleanor Rigby (McCartney)
3. I’m Only Sleeping (Lennon)
4. Love You To (Harrison)
5. Here, There and Everywhere (McCartney)
6. Yellow Submarine (McCartney)
7. She Said, She Said (Lennon)
8. Good Day Sunshine (McCartney)
9. And Your Bird Can Sing (Lennon)
10. For No One (McCartney)
11. Doctor Robert (Lennon)
12. I Want to Tell You (Harrison)
13. Got to Get You into My Life (McCarney)
14. Tomorrow Never Knows (Lennon)
February 13th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Sgt. Pepper’s is not a fair example, because that particular album was Paul’s pet project. The only way to fairly solve the argument would be to examine the entire catalogue of songs, and determine the writer, then do the math.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
That’s largely true save for Ringo who only wrote Octopus’s Garden and Don’t Pass Me By, but sang several songs like Yellow Submarine, Good Night, and Little Help From My Friends.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I always thought the rule of thumb with The Beatles is that whoever sang it, wrote it. I could be full of shit on that one.
Is Lennon this chick’s real first name or is it a stage name?
February 13th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Galdston, who the hell is Lemon Murphy? First, Arny Winehouse, now this Murphy guy. Are you people making this shit up? Why have I never heard of these singers?
Man, I need to listen to more crap, I guess.
Also, I maintain that John Lennon had nice breasts, too.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Let’s just take Sgt. Pepper:
1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (McCartney)
2. With A Little Help From My Friends (McCartney)
3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Lennon)
4. Getting Better (McCartney)
5. Fixing A Hole (McCartney)
6. She’s Leaving Home (McCartney)
7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! (Lennon)
8. Within You Without You (Harrison)
9. When I’m Sixty-Four (McCartney)
10. Lovely Rita (McCartney)
11. Good Morning Good Morning (Lennon)
12. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (still McCartney)
13. A Day In The Life (Mostly Lennon with the “woke up got out of bed” part McCartney)
February 13th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I don’t think that’s accurate.
McCartney was more prolific than Lennon. He wrote about 45% of the catologue with Lennon at about 40% and Harrison at like 15%. That’s a guess. I haven’t done the math.
Everything went under the Lennon/McCartney name, but they rarely wrote songs together. And John did not write more.
I feel a fight coming. I love you, Andy.
I just think you’re off here.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Isn’t it strange that people seem to think the majority of the Beatles work was collaborative between McCartney and Lennon. When Lennon in fact wrote the overwhelming majority of the catalogue. I supoose that’s what happens when you’re the only talented beatle still alive and can write your legacy however you want to.
There were no jokes in this comment.