Last week, hitmaking producer will.i.am filed a motion of opposition against fellow star, Pharrell Williams over Williams’ new brand name, i am OTHER. will.i.am claimed that the brand was “confusingly similar” to his own trademark and threatened to pursue further legal action. Pharrell, for his part, issued a statement bemoaning the Black Eyed Peas’ frontman’s approach. Now, he’s taken things a step further to file a lawsuit against will.i.am.
TMZ is reporting that Pharrell has filed a suit to prevent will.i.am from forcing him to change his brand. According to the report, Pharrell even quotes Dr. Seuss’ ‘Green Eggs And Ham’ in his application, in an attempt to further explain the differences in branding.
“Sam I am. I am Sam,” Pharrell explains. “I am Sam. Sam I am.”
“In contrast, the I Am Other mark means ‘I am something else,’ leaving what that ‘else’ is to the imagination of the consumer,” Pharrell continues. “It certainly does not mean ‘I am Will.'”
Shortly after the news broke last week of will.i.am’s dispute, he took to Twitter to claim that he wasn’t planning to officially sue Pharrell.
“i.am not suing @Pharrell ; I NEVER WAS.. What i.am doing is… #iamSCHOLARSHIP sending kids to school debt free,” will.i.am tweeted. His lawyer later echoed those same sentiments.
“We think their proposed trademark is too close to our registered and common law trademarks,” said will.i.am’s attorney, Ken Hertz via statement last week. “They disagree. We hope to work out a sensible compromise that will allow both parties to move forward without unnecessary acrimony.”
