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A legal battle has ensued between Ludacris and a Dallas coupple named Demitri Brown and Donna Evans-Brown who claim the rapper is infringing on their trademark for the phrase “Disturb The Peace.”
Demetri Brown and Donna Evans-Brown filed the lawsuit against Ludacris, his mother Roberta Shields and Disturbing Tha Peace Entertainment, on October 1, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas.
According to the Browns, they have been using the name “Disturb The Peace” in commerce since 1988, in the field of audio/video and musical entertainment products.
The lawsuit claims that in March 2011, the plaintiff discovered that Ludacris had illegally filed a trademark registration of the infringing name “Disturbing Tha Peace.”
The Brown’s claim Ludacris fraudulently claimed that they had abandoned the “Disturb The Peace” mark in order to obtain his “Disturbing Tha Peace” trademark.
“Defendants have and continue to knowingly use the name, Disturbing Tha Peace in commerce with actual knowledge that it infringes on Plaintiff’s trademark Disturb The Peace,” the Brown’s complaint states.
The Browns are seeking an injunction, in addition to a cease-and-desist order barring the use of Disturbing Tha Peace in commerce in Texas.
