Madonna Sued Over Perfume Logo
This year is proving to be a trying one for Madonna, at least legally. Only two months after dismissing the “laughable” legal threat that “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis issued over the name of MDNA’s second single – the video for which was banned from YouTube for its “graphic nature” – she is in hot water again with the copyright police. An Australian artist, RJ Williams, alleges that the “M” logo on her debut perfume, Truth or Dare, copies his own work. He claims that he trademarked the logo for use on clothing over eight years ago, despite the fact that it closely resembles an “M” – which is, in fact, a letter of the alphabet that’s free for anyone to use.
Williams took his concerns to Australia’s Daily Telegraph. “Friends from all over the world have been calling me upon seeing the Truth or Dare by Madonna campaign to express their disgust and support,” he claimed, adding, “It’s about my integrity as an artist. I do not think it should be able to be used by a giant cosmetics company.”
Madonna’s agent, Guy O’Seary, has received a legal cease-and-desist letter from Williams demanding all profits, but has not yet commented on the situation.