Eminem is currently in a court battle with and has requested a protective order against “Real Housewives of Potomac” stars Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon over their application to trademark the name of their “Reasonably Shady” podcast.
In October, the reality stars requested that the rapper appear at a court deposition regarding the trademark claims. According to People magazine, the “Sing For The Moment” rapper recently filed a motion declaring it would be “unduly burdensome” to be deposed because he has “limited knowledge of the subjects at issue” and insists his business partners are the ones to go through the deposition as they have “superior knowledge to Mathers on the relevant topics.”
The multiple-platinum rapper (real name Marshall Mathers III), who is widely known by his nicknames Slim Shady and Shady and owns the trademark for usage on merchandise and recordings, stated in his filing that his manager of over 25 years, Paul Rosenberg, would be more knowledgeable on the subject.
“It was under Rosenberg’s direction that Mathers registered SHADY marks asserted in this case,” Em’s filing claims.
Along with Rosenburg, Eminem’s motion also names Universal Subsidiary Fame House Chief Marketing Officer Eric Hahn and Stuart Parr, who has served as his licensing manager for a number of years, as other potential witnesses to be deposed as the rapper “is removed from the daily activities and details that comprise the use and promotion of” his SHADY marks, even though he is “the listed owner and signatory of the asserted trademark registrations.”
Eminem’s filing additionally argues that Bryant and Dixon’s motion filed for his appearance was “premature and procedurally improper,” as they “have yet to serve” him after his initial denial of their trademark application back in February.
“It seems obvious to us that if you file a lawsuit, you should be made available to be deposed,” the pair’s attorney Andrea Evans said via statement adding that they would “like to question Mathers at least about his use of the expressions Slim Shady and Shady.”
“It’s unclear to us that Mathers can be the owner of the trademarks and file this suit against our clients but he will not make himself available to be deposed,” Evans added.
Eminem’s original motion to oppose the podcast’s use of the Shady moniker states he believes his brand would be damaged if Bryant and Dixon’s trademark request were to be granted and could cause “confusion”.
“The marks Slim Shady and Shady have become and are an extremely valuable symbol of Mathers, his reputation and goodwill,” Eminem’s motion claims.
