News »
Gigwise RSS Feeds Bookmark and Share

Yoko Ono Denies She's Suing Lennon

She is 'really hurt' at the accusations...

Share

Yoko Ono has categorically denied that she is suing the rock musician Lennon Murphy for simply using the name of her late husband John.

A statement released by Ono’s label Parlophone says that Lennon Murphy approached the 74-year-old several years ago to seek permission for using the name, which Ono granted without hesitation.

However, it goes on to say that without Ono’s knowledge, Murphy made an application to the United States trademark office ‘requesting the exclusive right to utilize the name Lennon for musical performances.’

According to the release, Ono’s representatives asked for this registration of exclusivity to be removed, but apparently Lennon Murphy went on to apply for the trademark regardless.

The statement concludes: ‘Yoko did not sue Lennon Murphy, but sought to stop her from getting the exclusive right to the name Lennon for performance purposes. For that, Yoko's attorneys, simply notified the Trademark office that Yoko did not believe it was fair that Ms. Murphy be granted the exclusive right to the "Lennon" trademark in relation to musical and entertainment services.’

Ono herself has commented: “I am really hurt if people thought that I told a young artist to not use her own name in her performances and had sought to sue her. I did no such thing. I hope this allegation will be cleared.”

As reported on Tuesday, Lennon Murphy claims that the situation is otherwise and released an impassioned statement against Yoko Ono.

The open letter read: “I'm not sure what confusion I could be causing since I don't have the $50,000 to hire a lawyer and fight this. If people were confusing me with John Lennon and accidentally buying my records I should have more than enough money to live my life and hire a lawyer?

“Lennon is my first name by birth and I am regularly asked if I was named after the Beatle, having always replied no. My mother named me after "John Lennon that wrote songs, painted, and baked bread with his son". She named me for the man, not the pop star.”
(9)
  • Lennon Murphy appears to be the one who is selfish and greedy. Come on man, exclusive rights to the name Lennon? Get over it.

    ~ by beatlefan 2/14/2008

    Reply to this comment

    • I agree with you, by trademarking the name ”Lennon” Lennon Murphy was trying to stop others from using it without her permission, that’s whack !

      ~ by We're not that stupid, Ms. Murphy 2/14/2008

  • Nothing was more disgusting than watching all John’s fans come out of the woodwork to be cruel and downright vicious to Yoko Ono -- without knowing anything about the action.

    ~ by Vincent Truman 2/14/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • I was thinking of trademarking my name but dont think I’ll bother now. Dr. Winston O’Boogie, Kirkcaldy, Fife

    ~ by Paul McGinty 2/15/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • Looks like Lennon Murphey got her 15 minutes of fame by defaming Yoko.

    ~ by Barker 2/15/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • Never heard of her!

    ~ by John Lemmon 2/16/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • I usually hate Yoko, but where does Lennon Murphy get off trying to get exclusive rights to use the name ’Lennon’? John Lennon is my idol. Imagine I can’t buy a Lennon album unless it’s credited to ”John Winston Ono” or something. John and Yoko never tried to pull this shit on The Lennon Sisters.

    ~ by Reverend Flash 2/17/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • There’s only one person I think of when I hear the name Lennon, and that’s John Ono Lennon. It’s stupid to try to copyright that name no matter who you are. I named my son after John and wouldn’t stick up for him to try to use that name exclusively and commercially, but I also know he’s not that SELFISH, like Murphy is.

    ~ by hipmonkey #9 2/17/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • LENNON is the Name John had, some little girl singer trying to cash in ...get a Life, call yourself..”LENNY” your mother was Wierd.

    ~ by Paul H 3/4/2008

    Reply to this comment


 characters left [+]  


Register now and have your comments approved automatically!

  • @XLRECORDINGS well @Gigwise gave you #1 spot! :http://www.gigwise.com/photos/52489/50/The-50-Greatest-Albums-of-the-2000s
    Gigwise on Mon Nov 23 13:00:41 via web
  • Loving @gigwise's 50 albums of the decade.
    brasseye on Mon Nov 23 12:49:43 via web
  • RT @Gigwise: Coronation Street Bosses Want Noel Gallagher To Guest On Show: A top producer has confirmed... http://bit.ly/4U1GHe
    LEEDContractor on Mon Nov 23 12:37:51 via web
  • RT @Gigwise: Coronation Street Bosses Want Noel Gallagher To Guest On Show: http://bit.ly/4U1GHe
    Galleriste on Mon Nov 23 12:35:38 via TweetDeck
  • @Gigwise Your list is far, far, far better than the NME's. Great job!
    Sheq on Mon Nov 23 12:31:02 via web
Artist A-Z   # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z