Secret Service are an amazing band, I might add! I still want to do a cover of "Without You" one day. Rob < Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 02:49:29 GMT > From: "Bill Jones" > To: audities@smoe.org > Subject: Re: same band name problem > Message-ID: <20070215.185022.808.1349060@webmail07.lax.untd.com> > > Rob writ: > > A band in the UK has just popped up with our name (Baskervilles).  > It looks like they have been around for 3 months, and we have been > around for 10 years and have 2 releases.   They don't seem to want to > give up the name.   Any advice on what I should do? > > That really sucks - you guys must've been pissed when you first > learned of this.  I remember after I helped put out a compilation CD > in 1997 by my friends' band, The Secret Service (an '80s mod/R&B- > influenced garage rock act from Long Island), we heard from a New > Jersey-based group called "The Secret Service Band."  If I remember > correctly, they contacted us and asked us to stop using the name, to > avoid confusing the public, or something like that. > > First of all, I thought it was really dumb of them to have the > word "band" at the end of their name.  It just sounded stupid!  > Second, they looked really cheesy in the photos on their website, > which annoyed me.  Third, although my friends played a few shows > in '97 / '98 after reuniting for the first CaveStomp festival in NYC, > they weren't planning to stay active, so we didn't care that much. > > From some research I did back then, I'm fairly sure that one important > fact in establishing the right to your band name was whether or not > you had released anything publicly (as you have).  I think this may > give you a leg up on them, at least in the U.S.  You should be able to > find information on-line if you search on trademark law (I'll see what > I can dig up).  As someone suggested, you should try to find a lawyer > to consult, preferably a friend who won't take all your money.  A > little letterhead for future communications with this UK act can't > hurt!  Good luck. > > Be seeing you, > Bill > Baskervilles Twilight 14 free MP3 single #6 is now available. http://www.baskervilles.net http://www.myspace.com/baskervillesnyc It's A Red Fade That Leaves In A Warm Way>>