OK, music journalist types, this is important - from this point onwards Diddy is not to be referred to as Diddy unless of course you're referring to Diddy, but don't be using Diddy to refer to Diddy because he's no longer Diddy, well not in the UK anyway. If you're in France you can do what you like, you can call Diddy Diddy, and Diddy Diddy, and no one will care. But here in the UK, make sure you get you're Diddys right. OK? Good.
That is to say, Sean Combs has agreed to stop using the 'Diddy' moniker here in the UK after reaching an out of court settlement with a London based music producer who uses the same nickname.
Richard 'Diddy' Dearlove, perhaps best known for that 1990s remix of Blondie's 'Atomic', took legal action after Combs announced last August that he was to start performing under the name Diddy. Prior to that, of course, Combs had been known as P Diddy, Puff Daddy, Puff, Puffy, Daddy P Diddy Dad Dad and, on one especially bizarre occasion, Sean.
Dearlove argued that Combs decision to go by the name Diddy caused unacceptable confusion, and launched litigation under UK competition laws. He told the Guardian: "I started getting emails from Puerto Rican girls asking if they could be in my video and people were asking me to look at their clothing line".
The case was due to go to court next month, but the two sides in the dispute reached a settlement this weekend, with Combs agreeing to stop using the Diddy name in the UK and well as paying Dearlove unspecified damages. A statement on Dearlove's website reads: "Under the settlement Combs has had to pay Diddy Dearlove significant damages, all of his costs of the litigation, and will no longer be able to trade in the UK as 'Diddy'. The settlement vindicates Dearlove's decision to pursue Puffy through the courts and ensures that he will, once again, enjoy exclusive rights in the name DIDDY. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Combs has given several undertakings to Dearlove, which remain confidential. The settlement will, however, require Mr Combs to rebrand his commercial activities in the UK. Indeed, he has already begun repackaging many of his releases".
Combs' people have confirmed that the dispute between their client and Dearlove has been resolved "amicably", though they differ in their claims regarding the settlement between the two producers. Combs' spokesman, Robert Zimmerman, told reporters yesterday: "The damages reported are wholly inaccurate and the request by Dearlove's lawyer for legal fees in a case that has been settled is regrettable and is being vigorously contested".
It is not yet entirely clear what name Combs will now use in the UK - or whether the need to change his name here will persuade him to adopt a new moniker globally. Either way, while scanning the coverage of this story I found myself in the rare position of agreeing with a Daily Mail reader, who posted below their report of this dispute "Can someone tell me why anyone would want to be called Diddy?", while another pointed out that for them the word Diddy will always be primarily associated with comedian Ken Dodd. I expect the Diddy men to launch their litigation against Dearlove and Combs forthwith.