From iNews.
The band members say they are being sued after they challenged the trademark approval of the name they’ve used since the 60s
They first came to the public attention through a 1968 ITV comedy show Do Not Adjust Your Set.
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band are also known for performing Death Cab for Cutie at the end of The Beatles‘ 1967 Magical Mystery Tour film after they were personally asked to by Paul McCartney.
Now over 50 years later, the group are still going – or more accurately, they would be if it wasn’t for a legal battle over their name.
The band, whose members are now in their seventies and eighties, say they discovered two years ago that “an entity” had registered their name as a figurative trademark without their consent or knowledge.
They are now challenging the decision to grant it, because it means they will never be able to record an album or perform a concert under their name again.
The surviving members – who are Rodney Slater, Roger Ruskin Spear, Neil Innes, “Legs” Larry Smith and Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell – say they are facing a lawsuit by the trademark owner who asserts the band does not own the name and that their attempt to win it back through the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) tribunal service is a fraudulent act.
Rodney, 78, who played saxophones and other musical instruments and lives in Bedfordshire, told i: “It’s quite dreadful to go through this. It’s upsetting for everyone.
“It’s about the defining moments in your life, about your life’s work, that’s the distressing part.”
The group’s most successful single was a number five hit in 1968 called I’m the Urban Spaceman which was produced by McCartney.
Trademarks are a ‘mockery’
The IPO’s website shows a Warwickshire-based company called Anglo Atlantic Media Limited successfully registered the trademark The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in January 2016.
The musicians, who also go under the name Bonzo Dog Band, tried to registerBonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in October 2017 but it was opposed.
Since their legal fight began, Martin Ash, better known by the stage name Sam Spoons died in 2018.
The performers are campaigning for a change in the law to protect musician’s intellectual property and have launched a CrowdJustice page to ask for donations to help. The band, whose song Mr Slater’s Parrot was used in a 90s TV ad for Cadbury’s Mini Eggs, believe they may need up to £15,000 to fight the case.
The page states: “Under current UK legislation anyone can register a band’s name, i.e their Intellectual Property, by simply logging on to the IPO (Intellectual Property Office) website, paying a fee of £200 and ticking a box that confirms they are the owner of the name.
“The IPO does not ask applicants to provide any evidence of ownership, and unless the name has already been registered, a trademark is granted to the applicant. The next time the rightful owner decides to use the name, they can be held to ransom by the new owner.”
Jamie Pullman, London regional organiser of the Musician’s Union, said: “It appears people can register a name with no proof, making a mockery of the point of the IPO. This needs to stop, so that musicians can benefit from the fruits of their own labour.”
Rodney added: “We were meant to be going on tour but that had to have a stop put to it. We need a change in the law. This is not just about us, this shouldn’t happen to any musician.”
It’s not the first time Neil Innes, who wrote many of the songs used by Monty Python, has been involved in a legal battle about his music. He successfully sued Oasis for using his melody from How Sweet to Be an Idiot on their hit single Whatever in 1994.
IPO said it was unable to comment on individual cases that are in dispute at tribunal. It added that evidence will be examined and an application can be refused if it has been made in ‘bad faith’, that is because the person applying has no connection to the band.
Anglo Atlantic Media Limited have been approached for comment.
To donate to the appeal, visit here.
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- The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - I'm The Urban Spaceman - wide - UK - 7" vinyl - £8.00, $10.08, €9.60 (New Item) (arrived 14-Nov-2024 18:00)on November 25, 2024 at 11:10 am
THE BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND I'm The Urban Spaceman (1968 UK wide centred 7" vinyl single produced by Paul McCartney, also including Canyons Of Your Mind, Liberty die-cut paper sleeve. The vinyl has a few faint paper scuffs to highlight play butappears in excellent condition LBF15144)
- The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - I'm The Urban Spaceman - wide - UK - 7" vinyl - £8.00, $10.08, €9.60 (New Item) (arrived 14-Nov-2024 10:31)on November 25, 2024 at 11:10 am
THE BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND I'm The Urban Spaceman (1968 UK wide centred 7" vinyl single produced by Paul McCartney, also including Canyons Of Your Mind, Liberty die-cut paper sleeve. The vinyl has a few faint paper scuffs to highlight play butappears in excellent condition LBF15144)
- The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - The Peel Sessions - UK - 12" vinyl - £20.00, $25.20, €24.00 (New Item) (arrived 01-Nov-2024 20:20)on November 25, 2024 at 11:10 am
BONZO DOG BAND The Peel Sessions (1987 UK 4-track Strange Fruit 4-track vinyl 12" made up of BBC Maida Vale sessions for John Peel's Radio 1 show, includes We're Going To Brit It On Home, Monster Mash, Sofa Head & Tent, metallic-textured titlesleeve. The sleeve shows minimal wear and the vinyl has a 'cloudy' look where it was stored in a PVC sleeve but plays without any issues, and looks barely played SFPS051)
- The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - The Peel Sessions - UK - 12" vinyl - £20.00, $25.20, €24.00 (New Item) (arrived 01-Nov-2024 14:01)on November 25, 2024 at 11:10 am
BONZO DOG BAND The Peel Sessions (1987 UK 4-track Strange Fruit 4-track vinyl 12" made up of BBC Maida Vale sessions for John Peel's Radio 1 show, includes We're Going To Brit It On Home, Monster Mash, Sofa Head & Tent, metallic-textured titlesleeve. The sleeve shows minimal wear and the vinyl has a 'cloudy' look where it was stored in a PVC sleeve but plays without any issues, and looks barely played SFPS051)
- The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - Keynsham - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.90, €18.00 (New Item) (arrived 21-Oct-2024 11:11)on November 25, 2024 at 11:10 am
BONZO DOG BAND Keynsham (1980 UK 'The Pop File' series issue of the 1969 UK 14-track vinyl LP, housed in a Viv Stanshall designed glossy picture sleeve. The sleeve has some light edgewear, but the vinyl looks barely played LBR1041)
I feel for these guys. Yes, what is the point of the IPO if they allow this without scrutiny to ward off these repercussions? Did these individuals that took the name not check first to see if anyone used it in the past?