The band the Red Hot Chili Peppers have sued Showtime Networks for their use of the word “Californication” as the title of one of their shows. It was also the name of RHCP’s 1999 album and song. Claims are being made under federal trademark law and state unfair competition law. There are a number of issues her that could go both ways, but what I found amusing is singer Anthony Kiedis’s statement that:
“Californication’ is the signature CD, video and song of the band’s career.”
I always thought that it was John Frusciante’s guitar in Under The Bridge and Give It Away and the wise hand of Rick Rubin on Blood Sugar Sex Magik that put the band on the map and everything good since has been trying to recapture the feel of those songs. But then again, I became an attorney, so what do I know. Kiedis say’s that Californication is everthing that the band is or has been and I will have to take him at his word.
Full story here and Here.
And for those who need a history lesson, Californication is a word coined to describe out of control urban sprawl, as noted in this 1972 Time Magazine article:
“Legislators, scientists and citizens are now openly concerned about the threat of “Californication”—the haphazard, mindless development that has already gobbled up most of Southern California.”
Filed under: 2007 Trademark Cases, Trademark
Anyone know if anything has happened with this case??? We had to do our appellate brief on this one and I can’t find any updated news on it.