PRESS CONTACT: Michael C. Luckman (212) 995-0384
MODERN DAY BATTLE OF DAVID AND GOLIATH: ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC VS. ACM RECORDS
ACM Records is fighting for it's name in a modern day
Battle of David and Goliath currently being played out
between the small independent record label based in New
Jersey and the Academy of Country Music, which allegedly
wants to use the title ACM Records to expand it's thriving
record business.
Despite the fact that the Academy of Country Music had
it's trademark application for the title "ACM Fan Jam"
rejected because of alleged copyright confusion
with ACM Records' existing trademark, the organization,
which is known for it's annual awards show televised on
CBS, has filed a lawsuit against ACM Records
in the Federal Count in Los Angeles, California seeking
to prevent the well respected indie music label from
continuing to do business under it's longtime corporate
name.
Founded 20 years ago by Al Cohen and Eve Adams, ACM
incorporated in 1991 and registered the company's
name in 2008. On February 21, 2011 the United States
Patent Office rejected an application by the Academy
of Country Music for use of the title, "ACM Fan Jam,"
ruling that the name could easily be confused with
the ACM Records trademark. Nonetheless, the Academy
of Country Music has continued to use the title,
"ACM Fan Jam," to promote live music events and in
2011 began to distribute compact discs under the name
"ACM ZinePak."
"We don't have a problem with the Academy of
Country Music using ACM as their abbreviation," said
the co-owners of ACM Records, "but we will not allow
them to infringe on our musical territory. If
necessary we may seek an injunction to prevent the
Academy of Country Music from distributing products
that confuse the public as to their source. The
Academy needs to practice what many of their artists
preach: America is all about fairness for the little
guy."
ACM Records represents hundreds of recording artists
from all types of musical genres including rock, folk,
country as well as hip hop artists such as MCBEE-X,
Shif-T, Warchild, Seven, Minister Kane, and the
legendary Grandmaster Melle Mel among many others. The
label also represents songwriters, composers, and
producers that have had tunes placed on major
television network stations ranging from NBC, CBS, E!,
MTV, Discovery to FX on programs such as "Smash",
"justified", "Law and Order", "Nikitia" and
"Saturday Night Live" just to name a few, in addition
to their artists songs placed in numerous feature
films including the smash country hit, "Brokeback
Mountain: and the hip hop classic, "Paid in Full"."
