American Idol may be headed towards its final season ever, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still going to threaten lawsuits against anyone who impinges on their brand. The show’s latest legal threats are aimed at a senior talent contest that has been going under the name ‘Brooklyn Senior Idol’ and using an American Idol similar logo for the past seven years.
FreemantleMedia North America, the producers of American Idol, have issued a cease and desist letter to the ‘Brooklyn Senior Idol’ organizers to change the name of the contest, or else!
“While our client appreciates your enthusiasm for the American Idol and Idol brands, as a federal trademark owner, FremantleMedia cannot allow the unauthorized use of the Brooklyn Senior Idol Mark in connection with talent competition services,” the letter states, according to the New York Daily News.
Senator Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn), who serves as co-host of the Brooklyn Senior Idol event, says he was surprised by the sudden cease-and-desist letter after so many years. In response to the legal threat, Golden is now asking his constituents to help him rename the annual senior talent contest. Still, he isn’t pleased by American Idol‘s heavy-handed interference.
“It’s very disheartening,” Golden says in an interview with PIX 11 News. “I’m telling you the people are very, very upset to see this. My people are reacting, I’m getting e-mails like you wouldn’t believe because it’s just unnecessary, so unnecessary.”
“It is really an insult, to the seniors and to the Bay Ridge community. Focusing in on 700 people, give me a break. This is a national show and they’re going to go after 700 people for Senior Idol?”