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ARTICLE · 17 JULY 2013

I Am…Other — How Trademark Owners Can Avoid Declaratory Judgment Actions

Lewis Roca
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Singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams recently filed a declaratory judgment suit in the Southern District of New York against will.i.am of the music group The Black Eyed Peas.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Nathaniel Edwards
Nathaniel Edwards
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Singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams recently filed a declaratory judgment suit in the Southern District of New York against will.i.am of the music group The Black Eyed Peas. will.i.am owns the trademarks I AM and WILL.I.AM for clothing and entertainment and philanthropic services. The two artists have been in a dispute since will.i.am sent a cease and desist letter to Pharrell in December 2012 regarding Pharrell's use of the mark I AM OTHER for clothing and entertainment production. In April 2013, will.i.am filed oppositions against Pharrell's eight pending federal trademark applications for the I AM OTHER mark. Apparently fed up with will.i.am's trademark enforcement tactics, Pharrell filed suit seeking a ruling that his I AM OTHER mark does not infringe the I AM and WILL.I.AM trademarks.

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