Get the latest gossip
Earth, Wind & Fire Reaches Settlement With ‘Deceptive’ Tribute Band Over Damages Owed
Earth, Wind & Fire settled with a tribute band over money owed in a lawsuit. The unauthorized tribute act used the group's name without permission.
The band operates under a license from an entity called Earth Wind & Fire IP, a holding company controlled by Maurice White’s sons that formally owns the rights to the name. “Defendants did this to benefit from the commercial magnetism and immense goodwill the public has for plaintiff’s ‘Earth, Wind & Fire’ marks and logos, thereby misleading consumers and selling more tickets at higher prices,” the group’s lawyers wrote at the time. In particular, the judge cited angry social media posts and emails from fans who attended the “Reunion” shows because they thought it was the original band — proof of the kind of “actual confusion” that’s crucial evidence in a trademark lawsuit.
Or read this on Billboard