Current:Home > NewsJelly Roll sued by Pennsylvania wedding band Jellyroll over trademark -WealthSpot
Jelly Roll sued by Pennsylvania wedding band Jellyroll over trademark
View
Date:2025-04-16 03:51:07
Jelly Roll is dealing with some not so sweet legal issues.
The Grammy-nominated country singer has been sued by a member of the wedding band Jellyroll for trademark infringement in a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Pennsylvania's eastern district on April 8, court records obtained by USA TODAY show.
Jellyroll band member Kurt L. Titchenell claims their band started using the moniker in 1980, before the "Wild Ones" singer was born. They first obtained a trademark in 2010 and it was renewed for another 10 years in 2019, paperwork filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows.
In Titchenell's trademark complaint against Jelly Roll (born Jason Bradley DeFord), he says the band has been performing at events under Jellyroll "since at least 1980," including "two appearances at the White House for President George W. Bush and his family."
The band said prior to the rapper-turned-country singer's rise to fame, a query for the name Jellyroll on search engines such as Google would bring results back to them. Now, Google search results don't get to them until "as many as 18-20 references."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Jelly Roll for comment.
Who is Jelly Roll?A look at his journey from prison to best new artist Grammy nominee
Titchenell claims in the complaint that Jelly Roll was sent a cease and desist for using the moniker but "ignored this demand" all while "knowing that it continues to irreparably harm" the band.
The country musician has been going by Jelly Roll since childhood, which he told CBS in January stems from a nickname given to him by his mother.
"To this day, my mother calls me Jelly. If somebody walked in here right now and said, 'Jason,' I wouldn't look up," he told the outlet.
Jelly Roll weight loss:Singer says he's lost around 70 pounds as he preps for 5K race
Jellyroll member says Jelly Roll's felon past has caused negative association for their band
In addition to making it more difficult for people to search for the Pennsylvania-based wedding band, Titchenell alleges Jelly Roll's "troubled past, which includes a felony conviction and imprisonment," has "caused additional harm" for possible association confusion.
Jelly Roll was formerly incarcerated for two counts of aggravated robbery and possession with intent to sell cocaine. The admitted former drug dealer is now an advocate for drug reform, particularly the fentanyl crisis.
"Fentanyl transcends partisanship and ideology. ... This is a totally different problem … I am not here to defend the use of illegal drugs," he said during a January appearance before Congress on Capitol Hill at a hearing titled "Stopping the Flow of Fentanyl: Public Awareness and Legislative Solutions."
He also noted his "unique paradox of his history as a drug dealer" who was "part of the problem" and now aims "to be a part of the solution."
Titchenell's complaint argues the band has been especially frustated as Jelly Roll plans to embark on his nationwide Beautifully Broken tour, which includes a stop in Philadelphia at a venue where the band is "well-known and has performed."
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, Natalie Neysa Alund and Jeanine Santucci
veryGood! (6614)
Related
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Brooklyn Org’s rebrand ditches ‘foundation’ from its name for being ‘old’ and ‘controlling’
- Autopsies confirm 5 died of chemical exposure in tanker crash
- Fall Unconditionally and Irrevocably in Love With Robert Pattinson and Suki Waterhouse's Date Night
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Montana man gets 18 months in federal prison for repeated racist phone calls made to a church
- Swift bests Scorsese at box office, but ‘Killers of the Flower Moon” opens strongly
- Lauryn Hill postpones Philadelphia tour stop to avoid 'serious strain' on vocal cords
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Argentine economy minister has surprise win over populist, and they head toward presidential runoff
Ranking
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Leading in early results, Machado claims win in Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary
- Prosecutor: Ex-police chief who quit in excessive force case gets prison term for attacking ex-wife
- Taylor Swift's 'Eras' wins box office as 'Killers of the Flower Moon' makes $23M debut
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Detroit police say they’ve identified several people of interest in synagogue president’s killing
- Mourners recall slain synagogue leader in Detroit; police say no evidence yet of hate crime
- Dwindling fuel supplies for Gaza’s hospital generators put premature babies in incubators at risk
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent Reflects on Rock Bottom Moment While Celebrating 5 Years of Sobriety
Max Verstappen wins USGP for 50th career win; Prince Harry, Sha'Carri Richardson attend race
Drake is giving out free Dave's Hot Chicken sliders or tenders to celebrate 37th birthday
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
Kosovo’s premier claims a Serbian criminal gang with government links was behind a September flareup
Pakistani court indicts former Prime Minister Imran Khan on charges of revealing official secrets
University of Michigan slithers toward history with massive acquisition of jarred snake specimens