Real Housewives of Potomac stars Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon took an L in their legal battle with rapper, Eminem. In case you missed it, Marshall Mathers, the 51-year-old rapper with a candy moniker, took issue with Gizelle and Robyn over the name of their podcast, Reasonably Shady.
The ‘shady’ trademark:
In Touch reported, “Gizelle and Robyn filed a trademark application with The United States Patent and Trademark Office Board. They asked for the permission to use Reasonably Shady to sell various products. Eminem quickly filed an opposition to the application.”
The rapper claimed he spent decades building up the Shady brand. For the record, Em owns the trademarks for Slim Shady, Shady and Shady Limited. He argued if the RHOP stars were allowed to use the name, it would make it appear he had endorsed their project/product in some way.
Cheater brand:
Robyn and Gizelle’s Reasonably Shady branding, “simply looks and sounds like Shady and suggests that it represents the services of Mathers,” argued the Lose Yourself rapper’s team. Eminem’s attorney added, “Reasonably Shady so resembles Opposer’s mark Slim Shady, Shady and the mark Shady Limited in terms of appearance, sound and commercial impression as to be likely, when applied to [Robyn & Gizelle’s] goods, to cause confusion and mistake and to deceive.”
Star power:
Robyn and Gizelle denied Eminem’s claims that people would believe he had any association with their businesses. They asked the United States Patent and Trademark Office to force Eminem to sit for a deposition. Eminem argued he should not have to personally appear.
The ‘Kim‘ rapper said his longtime manager, Paul Rosenberg, had “far better understanding of the documents, marketing, and advertising than” him on the matter. “Rosenberg has worked with Mathers in connection with his career continuously since at least 1997 and well before his hit album ‘The Slim Shady LP’ was first released in 1999.”
Too famous for this:
Gizelle and Robyn feel Eminem should appear along with Paul, given they both appeared for a deposition. In other words, the Potomac gals want a photo op.
“An assertion of Mr. Mathers being too busy will not be enough to avoid having to sit for a deposition. As [Robyn and Gizelle], both celebrities in their own right, have provided the courtesy of sitting for deposition for [Eminem], it is not overly burdensome for [Eminem] to extend the same courtesy for his obligation.”
Following an intense back and forth, The United States Patent and Trademark Office Board ruled Gizelle and Robyn can depose Eminem’s manager but not the rapper. The United States Patent and Trademark Office Board said Gizelle and Robyn failed to prove their point. The ladies have 30 days to “notice, take and complete” Paul’s deposition. The case is ongoing.
Never forget, Eminem’s daughter, Hailie Jade hosts a podcast called ‘Just A Little Shady.’ Oh, to be a nepo baby!
