Just found another Band using our band name...

[kenfxj]

Well they're not using it.

 

[spaz21387]

Well you do have a point. But its so well known that people would be looking for the old police and not us.

 

[mellowinman]

What do we do? Our band is an originals band with songs about police brutality. The other band is just a cover band and the name fits us much better. The band leader went to court in 2007 to get the rights to the name because a certain tv show didnt like us using the name and we won. What do we do?

The band leader won a court case over the name Five Oh, and you're asking US what to do?

Is this a trick question?

 

[Nev375]

Get the police to beat the crap out of them.

...Then write a song about it.

 

[Lee H]

What do we do? Our band is an originals band with songs about police brutality. The other band is just a cover band and the name fits us much better. The band leader went to court in 2007 to get the rights to the name because a certain tv show didnt like us using the name and we won. What do we do?

If you want more subject matter for songs about dirty cops, you might look up a recent case in Redding CA... An Anderson city police (another small local city) recently got away with kidnapping and rape. He got convicted on another minor charge, and was sentenced to 364 days. He will most likely spend only 1/2 of that on house arrest...and he does not have to register as a sex offender

 

[FreeBassJunky]

To quote tha man himself, "That's messed up!"

 

[Music Attorney]

The issue here is about trademark. Nothing to do with copyright. Search my name and posts on trademarks. If you have questions thereafter, feel free to post.

There's a federally registered trademark for "FIVE-0" that's been given to PTOWN, Inc. CORPORATION OREGON 333 SW Park Avenue Portland OREGON 97205.

Is that you?

 

[ksandvik]

If you have the name copyrighted, I'd start with a letter to the other band through an attorney. They may not even know there is an issue. Start small and work your way up. There is no sense in starting with an Elephant Gun if it's an honest mistake on the other band's part.

Copyright does not help. You need to trademark it, if international across various trademark zone. Is not cheap, either.

 

[Stumbo]

the bandleader started the band in 04 but the name was originally the cops.

Its so easy this year alone gave us enough ideas to write atleast 15 songs.

If you want to be taken seriously on the trademark question, I suggest you stop posting about your band's philosophy. Maybe start another thread on the topic.

Just sayin'...

 

[jmattbassplaya]

If you want to be taken seriously on the trademark question, I suggest you stop posting about your band's philosophy. Maybe start another thread on the topic.

Just sayin'...

As usual with Stumbo posts, +1

 

[lfmn16]

Copyright does not help. You need to trademark it, if international across various trademark zone. Is not cheap, either.

You are too late, someone else pointed this out. I mis-spoke. The point was "is the name legally protected."

 

[One Drop]

Darn, I thought your name was going to be Barney Miller. Now I'm disappointed.

 

[john_g]

Why not change the name of the band to Rodney King? Or Portland Five-Ohhhh

 

[Lichtaffen]

The cops in Portland must all be nice guys because if you lived in my town and played songs with such subject matter, the cops would be waiting outside the clubs you play after every show to bust the band members for DUI. Just sayin'.

Do you have any newspaper clippings advertising your shows? If so, how old is the oldest one? That may help your case to prove how long you've been using that name.

 

[Big Brother]

Why don't you just call yourselves The Police?

I like that one. Maybe the members can have police themed names like Heat, Bust or Sting. Something like that.

OK maybe I am getting carried away a bit but I kinda think it could work...

 

[One Drop]

I like that one. Maybe the members can have police themed names like Heat, Bust or Sting. Something like that.

OK maybe I am getting carried away a bit but I kinda think it could work...

Mmaaaybe not the best course of action from a legal standpoint.
Record companies tend to frown on this type of thing, last time I looked.

 

[Waffles and Scotch]

The issue here is about trademark. Nothing to do with copyright. Search my name and posts on trademarks. If you have questions thereafter, feel free to post.

There's a federally registered trademark for "FIVE-0" that's been given to PTOWN, Inc. CORPORATION OREGON 333 SW Park Avenue Portland OREGON 97205.

Is that you?

MA,

Is there a way I can PM or email you? I have a question regarding a situation we've been presented with that I'd rather not post in the forums, as it's very possible one of the other parties involved is a TB member...

Thanks in advance.

 

[stflbn]

I was really hoping the band name was PeeWee's Playhouse...

 

[6jase5]

Ask Smashing Pumpkins about the time their lawyer got cocky and sent a letter to Smashing Orange, a punk band from the East coast that never made it real big, but big enough. Pumpkins nearly lost their name and had to settle for an OOPS hush sum payment.

It's really who had it longer, even if trademarked. Although Gene Simmons is the king of trademarks, he could not stop other people older than him selling things under the name KISS (candy company and lipstick company) and using his name (several business owners).

On a side note........
You could create a band name/theme bashing any commercial field because just by the law of percentages there are bad apples. I do hope that if your band equipment is ever stolen, that you stay true to your message and don't have the hypocrisy to call the police for help.

 

[jschwalls]

When my old band was playing out 3-4 nights week.. there was another band that copied our setlist 100% even down to the song order.... but they sucked so it wasnt a big deal.