When two of the world's most successful hip-hop and pop producers go head to head, it's bound to cause a mess. There's no way you can look away. You have to watch it unfold. No matter what, there's going to be drama, conflict and heated arguments. In their recent feud over practically nothing, Will.i.am is at Pahrrell Williams throat, accusing him of stepping on his "I AM" trademark. Williams, however, now wants the judge to rule that the trademark for his "I am OTHER" company is not infringing on Will.i.am's.
Williams filed the legal papers on Monday in federal court in Manhattan. He's seeking a declaratory judgement of non-infringement, according to Entertainment Weekly. Over the past two months, the two artists have been back and forth on the issue, Will.i.am sticking close to his guns and criticizing Williams for the seemingly harmless use of the words, "I am." Problems of the rich and famous.
A lawyer for Will.i.am has yet to comment on the matter. The former Black Eyed Peas singer has owned the "I AM" trademark since 2001 and filed objections against Williams company, i am Other, which launched in 2010, back in March and May.
On the surface, it may seem like an absurd accusation, but the trademark in itself is somewhat obscure. "I am" is so commonly used in our language that it seems impossible for anyone to use without scrutiny from Will.i.am. Although his trademark is capitalized, there are still too many nuances to be safe. It will be interesting to see if the judge rules in favor of Williams' request for a judgment of non-infringement, as it could set the tone for future trademark issues of similar nature.