Pop culture and legal drama often intertwine in unexpected ways. A recent example is the lawsuit filed by Jellyroll, a Pennsylvania wedding band, against the prominent country singer, Jelly Roll. At the core of this dispute is the allegation that Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, has been infringing on Jellyroll’s trademarked name.
Jellyroll, the plaintiff in this lawsuit, is a band led by Kurt L. Titchenell. The band has been using the ‘Jellyroll’ moniker since around 1980, a good four years before the birth of country singer Jelly Roll. They obtained a trademark for the name in 2010 and renewed it in 2019.
Jellyroll has been a staple at celebratory and charitable events across the United States. Their musical journey began in the Delaware Valley and has since extended throughout the Northeast.
Country star Jelly Roll, the defendant in this lawsuit, was born in 1984. The singer’s stage name was a childhood nickname given by his mother. He began his music career in the early 2000s, but the lawsuit alleges that he didn’t adopt the stage name until 2010.
Jelly Roll’s rise to fame was marked by hit singles like “Need a Favor” and “Save Me”. He has won several CMT Music Awards and iHeartRadio Music Awards, and received his first four nominations for the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards.
The lawsuit claims that before Jelly Roll’s recent surge in popularity, a Google search for ‘Jellyroll’ would return references to the plaintiff’s band. However, now, Jelly Roll dominates the search results, making it difficult for Jellyroll to maintain its online presence.
“Now, any such search on Google returns multiple references to Defendant, perhaps as many as 18-20 references before any reference to Plaintiff’s entertainment dance band known as Jellyroll® can be found,” the suit reads.
Jelly Roll’s team has been approached with a cease-and-desist notice. While they expressed a willingness to discuss the situation, they questioned whether Jelly Roll was really in competition with the plaintiff’s band.
The lawsuit draws attention to Jelly Roll’s upcoming Beautifully Broken Tour, which includes dates in the Northeast, where Jellyroll has a strong presence. The plaintiffs argue that Jelly Roll’s use of the name is causing confusion about which act will be performing at certain events.
Jelly Roll’s representative has yet to comment on the matter.
This case is a reminder of the potential for trademark disputes in the music industry, where name recognition and branding are crucial for success. With the rise of the internet and digital platforms, ensuring that a band or artist’s name is unique and protected by trademark laws has become increasingly important.
In the crowded music industry, a unique and recognizable name can be a significant factor in an artist’s success. It can impact everything from search engine results to merchandise sales. This case serves as a reminder for upcoming artists to ensure their stage names are truly unique and protected by trademark laws.
