Makaveli Branded Denies Marco Bellini Claims Of Trademark Infringement
Published: Wednesday - December 5, 2007
Words by Allen Starbury
Logos for Marco Bellini and Makaveli Branded (Photo: n/a)
Afeni Shakur and Amaru Entertainment, the principal interests revealed Wednesday (December 5) that they deny all allegations by the Marco Bellini clothing line that Makaveli Branded's "MB" logo in no way infringes on their trademark.
Last week, Isaiah Israel, owner of the T-shirt clothing company filed a claim for the second time this year that Amaru Entertainment is in copyright infringement, alleging that since 2003, his company has had sole possession of rights to the stylized "MB" logo.
Despite the allegations, Afeni's attorneys say the claims have no basis.
"There is no basis for Mr. Israel's suit and an appropriate answer has been filed in the action that he has commenced denying all of his baseless allegations," said Donald N. David, General Counsel for Amaru Entertainment and shareholder at Akerman Senterfitt LLP. "In addition, an action has been commenced to cancel Mr. Israel's mark in that he has failed in use such mark in interstate commerce as required."
According to Davis, Amaru Entertainment received the Trademark Office's approval to use their "MB" logo in 2004, confirming the logo did not infringe upon any other registered mark, including Israel's Marco Bellini.
Soon after Israel sought financial compensation directly from Amaru Entertainment for infringement, which the company outright rejected.
"While it is obvious that anyone can commence an action under our legal system," said David, "Amaru fully expects that it will not only prevail in this action, but that it will seek and be awarded attorneys' fees and that Mr. Israel's mark will be cancelled."
Makaveli Branded was launched by Afeni Shakur in honor of her son, Tupac Shakur, who went by the Makaveli alias when he recorded The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, shortly before he was gunned down on the Las Vegas strip in September 1996.
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