Los Angeles – Xbiz.com is reporting that attorneys “allegedly” representing Ringo Starr are opposing a trademark application filed by adult actress Elizabeth Starr.
Ringo Starr’s attorneys at intellectual property firm Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht oppose the application because they believe that Starr Productions, the name used by Elizabeth Starr’s production company, is too similar to the assumed name used by Richard Starkey, Ringo’s real name, according to the Xbiz story.
Ringo Starr’s attorneys are also claiming that “young adults” might innocently come across a search forStarr Productions and take it for Ringo Starr information, music or products. Attorney Stephen J. Strauss in a letter to Elizabeth Starr’s attorney dated March 15, 2004, wrote, “Thus, it is our opinion that your client’s registration of the above-identified marks conflicts with our client’s superior and famous federally registered trademark and service mark rights.”
Elizabeth Starr is calling the legal screws being applied to her as assinine. “After a search was done there was something like 20 different Starrs currently working in the entertainment business. I’m also not the first person to use the business name ‘Starr Productions.’ Starr told Xbiz, noting that she’s been doing business under that name for some time and has spent considerable money on ads, catalogs and screeners promoting her company.
According to Elizabeth Starr, she, among other things, has registered and paid for an LLC, EIN tax ID, business license as a motion picture company, California Sellers Tax Permit, insurance, DBAs, merchant accounts, bank accounts, trademarks and copyrights.
Starr also said she has millions of dollars tied up in products both on store shelves and waiting to be shipped.
According to, Xbiz, Ringo Starr was willing to agree to a settlement that would allow Starr to register one trademark involving the company name and a half-nude cartoon woman, but only if the actress agreed to abandon a trademark application for just the company’s name on a black background.
It’s also been requested that the company never use “Starr,” “Starr Productions,” “Elizabeth Starr Productions” or “Elizabeth Starr” in connection with “any goods or services relating to sound and video recordings featuring music and musical entertainment, musical instruments, and entertainment services relating to music.”
Elizabeth Starr has refused the settlement and the case continues to at least March.