On The Docket: WWE, Cody Rhodes And Fanatics Sued Over Trademark Infringement

2 months ago 27

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Lawyer up. Merchandising is one of the most important parts of any wrestling star, as presenting fans with a way to look or dress like their favorite wrestlers is quite the lucrative business. It can be an even bigger deal if a wrestler has the right name or nickname, but now one of the most popular names in wrestling might have something of a problem with how he is known.

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According to Fightful, Cody Rhodes, WWE and Fanatics are being sued over the rights to the name “American Nightmare” by Wesley Eisold, who fronts a band called American Nightmare. The two sides have an agreement allowing Rhodes to use the name as long as it is clearly differentiated from the band, be it with his name, likeness, or a wrestling reference.

The lawsuit states that WWE has sold merchandise with little to no references to Rhodes or to wrestling, which is allegedly creating confusion in the marketplace. This includes fans wearing Rhodes’ gear to the band’s concerts and the band being tagged in social media posts about Rhodes. Eisold’s lawsuit is seeking $150,000 in damages and treble damages of up to $300,000, as well as attorneys’ fees. WWE has not officially responded to the lawsuit.

Rhodes has done some great things in WWE as of late. Check out what he has been doing:

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Opinion: This is something that comes up every so often and if Eisold is accurate, it would not surprise me to see WWE pay him to make this go away. That is not a bad idea, as the amount of money that Eisold is coming after is something WWE can easily afford. It would not surprise me to see this winding up going to a settlement, as it could make this go away with far less of a headache.