Late Beatle John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono is suing a singer/songwriter for naming her band Lennon. Ono has filed court papers accusing rocker Lennon Murphy of fraudulently registering Lennon as a trademark and for the "tarnishment" and exploitation of her late husband's name.

The 74-year-old wants the trademark canceled, reports TMZ.com.

However, Murphy insists Ono and her lawyer approved the use of the name Lennon for her debut album in 2000.

Murphy writes on her page on website MySpace: "If Yoko prevails, Lennon might never be able to tour or release records using the name Lennon."

John Lennon was shot dead in New York City in December 1980.


(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

ok, I love Yoko, but that is a little over the top.

Shouldn't Paul sue teen heartthrob Jesse McCartney as well? I mean, how dare he use the last name everyone associates with Paul?

Great point, DW, sometimes I think this whole idea of "intellectual property" is just a way one artist tries to curb the creativity of another.

Oy vey...:crazy: Crazy lawsuits, celebs bashing other celebs...when will this insanity end???? :lol: I agree John, over the top.

Great point, DW, sometimes I think this whole idea of "intellectual property" is just a way one artist tries to curb the creativity of another.
I agree. The girl's parents named her Lennon, it's her birthright to use that name if she wants to. Granted, she'll always be in the shadows of John and people will always think of him first when they hear the word Lennon, but since it is her name, what's the big deal?

Anyways, isn't there fair use to using names? I mean, Marilyn Manson anyone?

You will never hear of anyone ever wanting to try to use the name OJ Simpson...but use MANSON? But of course. :lol:

Elvis Costello uses Elvis' name and Buddy Holly's glasses, and no one sues him! :lol:

No one cares! :lol:

well, I'd say Costello being a legend in the Hall Of Fame is a bit more established than Lennon, someone who I only know by name because it was neat to see someone who wasn't related to John using that name :lol:

Oh, dear. Another celebrity! When will it end? Now, Ono would go Japanese on their asses. I really think I am seeing the light now.....Ono's becoming the lead singer and singing off-key in the band Lennon. First Natalie, then Aretha, and now Ono....Celebrity boxing for these three, please. Get a room, ladies.

Oh, dear. Another celebrity! When will it end? Now, Ono would go Japanese on their asses. I really think I am seeing the light now.....Ono's becoming the lead singer and singing off-key in the band Lennon. First Natalie, then Aretha, and now Ono....Celebrity boxing for these three, please. Get a room, ladies.
:lol:

Something must have been in the water (or alcohol) at the Grammys :lol: Notice, Aretha, Natalie and now Yoko have been mentioned in less than 24 hours AFTER THE GRAMMYS where all three attended???? :lol: :crazy:

Aretha, Natalie and Yoko are all getting up there in age too, they probably think it's unfair that Britney, Paris and Amy are getting all the attention :lol:

Natalie was surprisingly decent on Grey's Anatomy a few years ago

What a crazy old woman. I saw Lennon open for Pat Benatar last summer, and while I'm not really a big fan of her style of music, I will say she's a very talented artist. I just read Lennon's Myspace blog, and I feel so bad for her. She's not some big artist with a ton of money, and she can't afford to fight this, yet as she points out, Yoko still collects millions each year. Ridiculous.

Aretha, Natalie and Yoko are all getting up there in age too, they probably think it's unfair that Britney, Paris and Amy are getting all the attention :lol:


Maybe it's MENOPAUSE.;)

well, Yoko is 75, she was going through menopause around the time Lennon was murdered. Unless she's going through a second menopause :lol:

well, Yoko is 75, she was going through menopause around the time Lennon was murdered. Unless she's going through a second menopause :lol:
They call it meno-PAUSE, not menoSTOP. ;) She must have her ups and downs. :lol:

God, I have 8 more years to go for that sh*t.

well, Yoko is 75, she was going through menopause around the time Lennon was murdered. Unless she's going through a second menopause :lol:
HMPH! I think that b**ch was BORN menopausal!!! :mad:

(I love things Japanese but, i hate Yoko and that unworldly screeching she calls singing! :barf: )

I thought Yoko's aged extremely well in the looks department. She was very homely in the 60's, but as she's gotten older, she's acquired a level of "cuteness".

I think people are too harsh on her music as well. She's horrible when she screams, but when she's tried to sing, I don't think her music has been given a fair shake. "Walking On Thin Ice" would be regarded as a classic "women in rock" song if Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, Debbie Harry or any other female rocker who was big circa 1981 had recorded it, but because it's Yoko, it never truly got it's due outside of critics (she did get a Grammy nod for it in 1982 but lost to Pat Benatar) and Yoko's small fanbase. It truly is one of the great "women rock" songs ever recorded but it never truly got the recognition it deserves because it's Yoko Ono.

^^^^ Its a good song, but, her "singing" still ruins it , imo ^^^^

True, her voice is truly an acquired taste. I also think John's guitar riff helped the song immensely. It was the final thing he recorded since he laid down the riffs on the day he was murdered. Makes me wonder how he would've evolved in the 80's because he was playing like a metal musician on that song and was really rocking the guitar out near the end of that song.

Dunno, but, some of the songs on that album, like "Just like starting over" were some of the best work he had ever done, many of them, at least as good as anything he did with the Beatles....in fact , in my opinion, his masterpiece was "Imagine", another post-Beatles song; it seems as if John L was beginning a true rennaisance, when that deluded scum gunned him down. :(

Lennon is a name, not a trademark. Jeez, Yoko - what are ya, bored or something??:rolleyes:

I hope this lawsuit gets thrown out by the judge. Ludicrous!

Now, I think John Legend should be sued because, let's face it, his name reminds me of...well, you know...

Ono's bored. She wants a piece of the pie and she knows it...:rolleyes: Now, Natalie and Aretha are doing it, so Ono thought, "Why don't I do the same thing?"

^ well. Lennon is a cult artist,none of her albums have sold well or anything so it's not like Yoko stands to gain a lot from her

Isn't it a bit of a coincidence that Ono shows up in the media a few days after Ringo appears on the Grammys to accept an award on behalf of the Beatles?

Get a life Yoko. John's legacy is just fine.

;)