What happens when the name of two superstar producers’ respective companies include two of the same words? A legal battle of course. Reports began to circulate last week that The Black Eye Peas frontman will.i.am is suing Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes for copyright infringement.
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Just days after will.i.am filed a notice of opposition over Pharrell’s i am OTHER creative venture, Pharrell has filed a lawsuit of his own.
TMZ reports that will.i.am sent Skateboard P a cease and desist letter informing P that he owns everything with a right to “I Am.” In response, Pharrell appears to be suing will.i.am to prevent him from suing the Neptunes member.
In the suit, Pharrell argues that his use of “I Am” differs completely from will.i.am’s use, in that the Black Eyed Peas frontman’s use is akin to Dr. Suess’ use in the beloved children’s book “Green Eggs and Ham,” which features a character named Sam I Am.
His suit goes on to say that his use of the phrase “I am” is in a completely different context.
“In contrast, the I Am Other mark means ‘I am something else,’ leaving what that ‘else’ is to the imagination of the consumer. It certainly does not mean ‘I am Will.’”
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