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Kid Rock. Photo courtesy of Billboard.
Summary: The company that owns the rights to the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey is suing Kid Rock for allegedly stealing their slogan, “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
Kid Rock wants you to think his upcoming concert tour is the Greatest Show on Earth, but the circus is parading in and putting its elephant foot down.
The company that owns the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus filed a lawsuit against the Detriot singer, stating that he is unlawfully using their slogan to promote his 2018 tour.
“This historic trademark has been an important part of Ringling Bros. for the past century, and it is recognized as a trusted and iconic brand of family-friendly entertainment. The Greatest Show On Earth continues to live on and will do so well into the future. We have no intention of surrendering the trademark or allowing it to be tarnished,” Feld Entertainment Chairman and CEO Kenneth Feld said.
Feld Entertainment, which owns the famous circus, sued Kid Rock (real name Robert Ritchie) and Live Nation Entertainment for trademark infringement. They filed their lawsuit on Friday in Tampa, Florida after what they said were repeated attempts to get the two parties to stop using the phrase, “Greatest show on earth.”
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“We have authorized licensees for Ringling Bros. and The Greatest Show On Earth, but Kid Rock is not one of them,” Feld general counsel Lisa Joiner said.
In addition to owning Ringling Brothers and all their intellectual properties, Feld’s licensees include Chick-fil-A and MetroPCS.
Feld is seeking a stoppage to Kid Rock’s usage of the phrase “Greatest Show on Earth” as well as the proceeds from any of Kid Rock’s tour and merchandise that benefited from the use of the slogan.
According to the lawsuit, Feld earned over $50 million in the last five years from The Greatest Show on Earth. The well-known circus was closed in May after 150 years running. Feld reportedly bowed to pressure from animal rights’ groups that protested its use of live animals in variety acts.
Kid Rock’s Greatest Show on Earth tour will begin on New Year’s Eve in Kansas City, Missouri. He has yet to comment on the litigation, but according to Billboard, he is still using the phrase on his social media.
Kid Rock, who is well-known for his rock hits like Bawitdaba, Picture, and Cowboy, has an estimated net worth of $80 million. Earlier this year, there were rumors he was considering running for Michigan Senate as a Republican, but he said on the Howard Stern show that his political turn was only a stunt to promote his new album.
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