With the release of Mayhem by Lady Gaga, a surf company has stepped up and is attempting to sue her for ripping off their logo. It's a bit of a stretch, though.
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The surf company, also called Mayhem, has been producing surfboards and related gear, including clothing and merch with the Mayhem logo on it, since the '80s. They actually trademarked the logo in 2005. Now, with the release of Mayhem by Lady Gaga, the surf company says she's infringing.
Looking at the two of them, there are certainly similarities. However, I don't think there are enough to call it a direct rip-off. The typefaces have a similar torn/ripped aesthetic, but if they're trying to sue for a complete font theft, they'll struggle to make it stick.
The surf company filed a complaint against Lady Gaga, claiming her logo was "substantially similar if not nearly identical." They are concerned about their brand and the image they maintain. "Lady Gaga's actions are likely to mislead the public into concluding that her goods originate with or are authorized by Lost, which will damage both Lost and the public."
They are concerned that Lady Gaga will not uphold the hard-earned reputation for quality surf gear they have fostered. "Lost has no control over the quality of goods sold by Lady Gaga and because of the source of confusion caused by Lady Gaga, Lost has lost control over its valuable goodwill."
Lawyers Claim Surf Company Is Being Opportunistic
It's easy to see where the surf company is coming from with its claims against Lady Gaga. With a company like theirs, their brand is everything. They don't want there to be a chance she could start to sully their name with low brand, similar looking, products.
But, her lawyers have clapped back at the claims. They insist that they're less interested in their reputation and are simply trying to get a piece of the multimillion dollar Gaga pie. "Lady Gaga's Mayhem soared to No. 1 and shattered records, a testament to her unmatched talent and global impact. It's disappointing — but hardly surprising — that someone is now attempting to capitalize on her success with a baseless lawsuit over the name Mayhem," her lawyers said.
They dug the boot in by saying the surf company is simply using the fame of Lady Gaga for their own personal gain. "This is nothing more than an opportunistic and meritless abuse of the legal system." I think it's fair for them to want to protect the brand, but it's a long shot.
