Kid Rock is getting sued by the Ringling Bros.
It seems Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus is coming after Kid Rock over his upcoming 'Greatest Show on Earth' tour, claiming the rocker does not have permission to use their slogan and is now facing a trademark infringement lawsuit.
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The Barnum & Bailey's “Greatest Show on Earth!” slogan is well-known throughout the world, and while some companies such as Chick-Fil-A and Metro PCS have been authorized to use the trademarked slogan, Kid Rock has not.
“We have authorized licensees for 'Ringling Bros.' and 'The Greatest Show on Earth,' but Kid Rock is not one of them,” says general counsel of Feld Entertainment, Lisa Joiner. “Feld Entertainment was not contacted by Kid Rock (or anybody else on his behalf) regarding his use of Feld Entertainment’s trademark.”
Live Nation was also named in the lawsuit which was filed Friday at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The lawsuit states that Kid Rock and Live Nation were not authorized to use the slogan for his 2018 tour.
“This historic trademark has been an important part of Ringling Bros. for the past century, and it is recognized as a trusted and iconic brand of family-friendly entertainment,” says Feld Entertainment CEO and Chariman, Kenneth Field in their statement. The Greatest Show On Earth continues to live on and will do so well into the future. We have no intention of surrendering the trademark or allowing it to be tarnished.”
The lawsuit seeks immediate discontinuation of Kid Rock's use of the slogan, profits from merch bearing the circus' slogan and other unspecified damages.
According to Reuters, the company states they had reach out to both Kid Rock and Live Nation repeatedly, asking them to stop using the slogan but were ignored every time. Neither Kid Rock or Live Nation have yet to release a statement in regards to the lawsuit.
Kid Rock's 'Greatest Show on Earth' tour is set to kick off December 31 in Kansas City and run through mid-April.
