Morrissey Central "THE PLOT THICKENS" (September 15, 2024)

J Marr has successfully applied for 100% trademark rights / Intellectual Property ownership of The Smiths name. His application has been accepted on whatever oaths or proclamations he has put forward. This action was done without any consultation to Morrissey, and without allowing Morrissey the standard opportunity of 'objection'. Amongst many other things, this means that Marr can now tour as The Smiths using the vocalist of his choice, and it also prohibits Morrissey from using the name whilst also denying Morrissey considerable financial livelihood.

Morrissey alone created the musical unit name 'The Smiths' in May 1982.

THE PLOT THICKENS - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - THE PLOT THICKENS

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

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Media items:

• AV Club: "Morrissey claims that Johnny Marr owns name "The Smiths" now" - September 16, 2024
• NME: "Morrissey claims Johnny Marr now owns “100 per cent trademark rights and Intellectual Property” of The Smiths name" - September 16, 2024
• Stereogum: "Morrissey Says Johnny Marr Has Acquired The Smiths Trademark, Can Replace Him As Band’s Vocalist" - September 16, 2024

 

[JerryCan]

Hadn’t seen these documents before.

The info on the TM website - had it's link posted on this thread earlier, also other posts explaining lawyers and JMs company formed to handle it. 1000s of posts buried back, so I don't blame you for not seeing. Actually I don't remember seeing Angela's name when I desperately clicked on all the tabs, just some faceless legal addresses. May have something to do with the tears of despair I was trying to see through.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

This is Johnny’s account of that day:

One day in September 2008 we were only a couple of miles apart in south Manchester and arranged to meet up in a pub nearby. I was happy to see him – it was 10 years or more since we’d last met. We caught up with personal news and family and reminisced a bit.”

“Then our conversation turned to deeper things. Morrissey started to talk about how our relationship had become owned by the outside world, usually in a negative way. We had been defined by each other in most areas of our professional life. I appreciated him mentioning it, because it was true.”

“The drinks kept coming and we sat talking for hours. We chatted, as we always did, about the records we loved, and eventually we moved on to “that subject”. There had been rumours for years that The Smiths were about to re-form, and they were always untrue. I had never pursued any offer.”

“Suddenly we were talking about the possibility of the band reforming, and in that moment it seemed that with the right intention it could actually be done and might even be great. I would still work with the Cribs on our album, and Morrissey also had an album due out. We hung out for a while longer, and after even more orange juice (for me) and even more beer (for him) we hugged and said our goodbyes.”

“I was genuinely pleased to be back in touch with Morrissey, and The Cribs and I talked about the possibility of me playing some shows with The Smiths. For four days it was a very real prospect. We would have to get someone new on drums [original drummer Mike Joyce sued Morrissey and Marr over royalties in 1996], but if The Smiths wanted to re-form it would make a hell of a lot of people very happy, and with all our experience we might even be better than before.”

So they discussed it, but it wasn’t the direct reason they met and they both had other things to do as well. Why they didn’t keep in touch afterwards is anyone’s guess.

Yes. Thanks! It’s good you posted this, I don’t have a copy of STBFree. Did M mention it in Auto? Would be interesting to see their accounts back to back.

 

[JerryCan]

It is possible that Moz has just become aware of this because of the 'Smiths Rule OK' disagreement. If Johnny did do it entirely on his own without informing Morrissey...

I'm wondering if Damon hides faxes (if they're still a thing?) or any JM mail that drops through their letterbox, to try to keep the household's atmos calm. It worked well...

 

[manfields]

Jake's last 2 Morrissey posts were 2019 and 2020 and he's deleted a few too that I'd noticed.
Possibly due to the over-enthusiastic deluge of 'fans' and 'haters'...
Regards,
FWD.

umm interesting!!! thanks

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Wow, really? Which one is your favourite?
I think Dusk and Electronic are easily 9/10 albums.
His solo albums are all 6/10 to 7/10 max.
They have some really good songs but fail to hold my attention for an entire albums length.

The one I keep coming back to is Call the Comet. I have a soft spot for post punk, and that’s his most post punk album, I suppose.

 

[Thewlis]

Yes. Thanks! It’s good you posted this, I don’t have a copy of STBFree. Did M mention it in Auto? Would be interesting to see their accounts back to back.

I have it here on my bookshelf, will have a look after dinner. I can’t remember what he said. Wouldn’t surprise me if he hasn’t mentioned it at all.

 

[Grim Reaper]

Marr said he couldn't be bothered dealing with the members of the band anymore in 2013, this is probably a defensive/blocking move.

I'm not sure how it would stand up if Morrissey really challenged it in court, but making Moz jump through costly hoops to use the Smiths for his own ends is the probably the reason he did it lol

 

[JerryCan]

I wonder what Morrissey means by this comment at the end as this has no impact on his royalties from the Smiths.

"and it also prohibits Morrissey from using the name whilst also denying Morrissey considerable financial livelihood."

He doesn't understand what any of this really means at all. He should of faxed/speed dialed some legal pro first first before doing ANYTHING, would have saved us all from this angst.
I used to hate when celebs say "check with my lawyer" but now I wish he actually had a full time top-flight legal team on standby 24/7 to save him from himself.

 

[Gray Fruit]

The info on the TM website - had it's link posted on this thread earlier, also other posts explaining lawyers and JMs company formed to handle it. 1000s of posts buried back, so I don't blame you for not seeing. Actually I don't remember seeing Angela's name when I desperately clicked on all the tabs, just some faceless legal addresses. May have something to do with the tears of despair I was trying to see through.

Who was Morrissey's manager in mid-2018? This is the person who Morrissey should be complaining about. They should have contested/responded to the trademark application.

 

[Mimi Ramone]

I have it here on my bookshelf, will have a look after dinner. I can’t remember what he said. Wouldn’t surprise me if he hasn’t mentioned it at all.

I haven't the book with me at the moment either, but he said something along lines of Johnny had let him know he wanted to reunite the Smiths, but you could only survive the Smiths one time. The meeting was not mentioned as such and no date/year/circumstance given, if I remember correctly.

 

[markreed]

In all probability, J Marr filed the trademark to stop the Classically Smiths shows proceeding.

The Smiths partially reunite for classical concerts

Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce and Craig Gannon have reworked the band’s back catalogue for performances this summer

www.theguardian.com

 

[Gray Fruit]

The one I keep coming back to is Call the Comet. I have a soft spot for post punk, and that’s his most post punk album, I suppose.

I love that as well. My favorite is Actor Attractor, reminds me of Sisters of Mercy.

 

[Cornflakes]

Morrissey is obviously very concerned about intellectual property rights, so please no-one inform this law firm that he has stolen their photo.

Trademark Search - Oikonomakis Christos Global Law Firm

A trademark search is ideally an analytical and comprehensive way of researching a name, logo or slogan for prior use. It is highly advisable to conduct a trademark search before filing an application for registering a trademark. Before you file your trademark application with the USPTO, you...

oikonomakislaw.com

 

[Amy]

The Pretenders are playing Frankfurt next Saturday. And if my current Covid-19 illness (yes, my dear Morrissey hardcore fans Covid exists) has subsided by then, I'll be screaming "Morrissey n Marr: Chrissie, just do something!" in a hoarse voice after "Back on the chain gang".

Haha! I suggest a massive sign with No More War

 

[karenina]

Morrissey is obviously very concerned about intellectual property rights, so please no-one inform this law firm that he has stolen their photo.

Trademark Search - Oikonomakis Christos Global Law Firm

A trademark search is ideally an analytical and comprehensive way of researching a name, logo or slogan for prior use. It is highly advisable to conduct a trademark search before filing an application for registering a trademark. Before you file your trademark application with the USPTO, you...

oikonomakislaw.com

It's a stock image.

 

[Cornflakes]

It's a stock image.

No it isn't. It's copyrighted by someone called Sam Etsy Rayner. Says so in the metadata.

 

[JerryCan]

Who was Morrissey's manager in mid-2018? This is the person who Morrissey should be complaining about. They should have contested/responded to the trademark application.

Yeah whoever it was they should have woken him up and said he ought to for once just lift the phone to his old mate and ask what's going on. Johnny (hopefully) may then have just explained something like he's just protecting both their legal interests. If M complained about Johnny going it alone Johnny could just remind him how brilliantly that court case went.
This is what I'm hoping.

 

[karenina]

No it isn't. It's copyrighted by someone called Sam Etsy Rayner. Says so in the metadata.

Trademark stock photo. Image of label, piracy, license - 52234844

Photo about Rubber stamp printed with trademark. Image of label, piracy, license - 52234844

www.dreamstime.com

 

[FROSTY]

Is it possible Marr is just protecting the "brand" and all continues 40/40/10/10?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

I love that as well. My favorite is Actor Attractor, reminds me of Sisters of Mercy.

That’s a great one. My pick is New Dominion, which reminds me of Adrian Borland’s (The Sound) side project Second Layer.