Oprah’s Trademark Firm Sues Podcast For Using Her Name Without License
Even though the name “Oprah” has become one of the most ubiquitous names in the modern-day lexicon, it seems not just anyone can reference the famed talk show host.
Harpo Inc, which owns the rights to Oprah’s trademarks, has recently launched a lawsuit against a podcast for attempting to capitalize on what it’s calling “The Oprah Effect” without a license.
The pair of hosts, Kellie Carter Jackson and Leah Wright Rigueur, are now finding themselves in hot water for launching the Oprahdemics podcast in March this year, with its first season just ending in June.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, it appears Harpo has taken issue with the podcast’s cover art, which includes a definition of its title, and a large ‘O’ logo featuring Oprah’s outstretched arms.
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The firm said this could mislead consumers into thinking that the mogul herself was associated with the offering, and that it may dilute the power of her brand or “cause irreparable harm to Harpo’s goodwill and reputation.”
“Her fame is so extensive that she is instantly recognized by her first name Oprah alone,” argued attorney Tamara Carmichael of Dorsey & Whitney in the complaint, which was filed this week at the New York Federal Court.
However, in an interesting twist, the company stated it is not seeking “monetary damages or profit,” nor does it seek to prevent the defendants from “airing a podcast series on their chosen topic.”
Roulette Productions, which produces the podcast, responded to the publication by saying the show was “journalistic exploration” by two longtime fans of Oprah Winfrey, and that the topics discussed came from “both deep admiration and critical thinking.”
While the production house said it was “genuinely surprised” by the unexpected lawsuit, it hopes to resolve it amicably.
[via The Hollywood Reporter and Techdirt, cover image via Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com]
