Trademark Conflict Creates Drama for Reality Show
According to an article in Florida Today, a rock band called Supernova from Southern California has filed a complaint against CBS reality show “Rock Star: Supernova,” alleging it used the name first.
The complaint claims unfair competition and trademark infringement, and attempts to prevent the show and its participants from utiizing the Supernova name. The lawsuit was filed on June 27 in U.S. District Court by the Plaintiffs, who are also seeking damages.
The Plantiffs believe that they have a long standing common law trademark that entitles them to use of the name Supernova. The band first performed under the name Supernova in 1991, subsequently releasing several singles and three full-length albums.
Representatives of the CBS show which first aired this past July 5, filed seven U.S. trademark applications for the name Supernova and two for “Rock Star: Supernova.”