Beyoncé is suing a company to stop it from selling products with the word “Feyonce” across, which she says is too close to her own trademarked name.
The singer filed a complaint in a Manhattan court against the company Feyonce Inc and three individuals from San Antonio in Texas. She accuses them of “brazenly” selling the products on their website.
Among its products, the website sells tops, hoodies and coffee mugs - one of which is highlighted in the lawsuit as having the phrase “he put a ring on it,” written across, which Beyoncé says is intended to remind consumers of her hit 2008 song “Single Ladies”.
The 34-year-old claims the sale of the products can confuse consumers and causes her irreparable harm. She also claims the defendants have ignored her when she’s asked them to stop.
The lawsuit, which is seeking unspecified damages, says: “Defendants adopted the Feyonce mark to call to mind Beyoncé and her famous song. Defendants’ conduct described herein is intentional, fraudulent, malicious, wilful and wanton.”
The lawsuit alleges one named defendant also tried to trademark 'Feyonce both with and without the accent above the ‘e’. The defendant Andre Maurice declined to speak to Reuters, telling them he had yet to review the lawsuit.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
