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Beyonce sues maker of Feyonce merch

By | Published on Thursday 7 April 2016

Beyonce

Beyonce is suing US company Feyonce Inc, accusing it of infringing her trademarks be selling clothes and other merchandise branded with its own name.

The singer accuses the company of “brazenly” selling the infringing items on its website, including a mug that bears the slogan “Feyonce: He put a ring on it”. Because, you see, Feyonce is apparently how some people think you spell ‘fiancé’. That slogan is quite similar to the lyrics of Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ though, as I’m sure you noticed.

“Defendants adopted the Feyonce mark to call to mind Beyonce and her famous song”, says Beyonce’s lawsuit. “Defendants’ conduct described herein is intentional, fraudulent, malicious, wilful and wanton”.

The lawsuit also says that one person involved with the Feyonce brand, Andre Maurice, has filed trademark applications for the word Feyonce, both with and without and accent on the final e.

Earlier this year, Beyonce threatened Etsy with legal action if it did not delist coffee mugs marked ‘Feyonce’, which it promptly did.

As well as seeking a complete stop to the sale of these items, Beyonce is demanding unspecified damages and all profits earned from them to date.

Elsewhere in Beyonce news, the singer has done an interview with Elle, in which she says that people who read her ‘Formation’ video and Super Bowl performance as anti-police are “completely mistaken”, while discussing why women should take more time to maintain their mental health and then hitting back at critics of her stance on feminism.

“I have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of officers who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe”, she said of the reaction to ‘Formation’. “But let’s be clear: I am against police brutality and injustice. Those are two separate things”.

She goes on to say that a culture that pressures women into striving for perfection (which, arguably, she plays into, but still) is unhealthy: “It’s not about perfection. It’s about purpose. We have to care about our bodies and what we put in them. Women have to take the time to focus on our mental health – take time for self, for the spiritual, without feeling guilty or selfish”.

On feminism, she adds: “I’m not really sure people know or understand what a feminist is, but it’s very simple. It’s someone who believes in equal rights for men and women. I don’t understand the negative connotation of the word, or why it should exclude the opposite sex. If you are a man who believes your daughter should have the same opportunities and rights as your son, then you’re a feminist”.



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