"American Idol" Sues Strip Club

(AP)  "American Idol" wants a Texas strip club to take it off.

FremantleMedia North America, which owns the popular TV show, has sued in federal court to stop the weekly "Stripper Idol" contest at Palazio Men's Club in Austin. The company also wants to seize Palazio's profits from the amateur stripping contest.

In its lawsuit, FremantleMedia calls "Stripper Idol" a trademark violation that could mislead the public to believe that the TV show sponsors the event, The Dallas Morning News reported in Tuesday editions.

Advertisements for the stripping contest use a logo with a "color scheme, design and font" similar to that of the TV show. Waitresses at the club wear T-shirts emblazoned with the logo, according to the lawsuit.

"Defendants are infringing upon FremantleMedia's trademark rights," the lawsuit alleges. "There is a substantial likelihood that consumers will be confused, misled or deceived as to the sponsorship ... of the defendants' stripper talent contest."

Palazio managers initially thought the lawsuit was a joke. But they don't plan to end the Thursday night strip-off.

The club's managers say their contest doesn't resemble the TV show. In "Stripper Idol," the women have 60 seconds to dance topless, then are ranked by audience applause to win $500.

FremantleMedia can't claim the word "idol," said "Kinky" Kelly Jones, a club manager and the show's host.

"It's shocking. We're just a local company, it's not like we're some big threat," said club operations manager Scott Stevenson.

The contest is in its 12th week and has a growing popularity, club managers said.

[hypnotoad72]

So rename it to ''Idol the Stripper'' if FOX is so constipated over what is a non-issue.

[macusweil]

people with money & trademarks think they own the world.. patheric

[omega40]

In "Stripper Idol," the women have 60 seconds to dance topless, then are ranked by audience applause to win $500.

This is really the only "idol" show I would ever consider watching.

[honestabe8]

mrs_zambesi will be down to her panties in no time.

Posted by spiritwalk

Y''all got to know that mrs_zambesi is a middle aged fat bald guy who is just here to be a troll. ignore it

[bobnjersey]

[What a frivolous law suit. This strip bar is not in hte broadcast business, therefore a judge will rule that the strip club''''s use of Idol does not infringe upon the American Idol trademark.]
[Posted by yongamerica at 02:07 PM : Jan 14, 2009]

it''s not frivolous. they''re using the likeness of the american idol trademark ... which is a brand ... to profit for themselves. this is what trademark protection is all about. if one company spends a pile of money creating the brand ... and they trademark that brand ... anyone else trying to profit by using that brand is in violation of the trademark protection. and it has nothing to do w/ personal opinions about the quality of the product or service the brand/trademark represents.

[volleymom3]

Well...at least we wouldn''t have to endure the horrible singing from the "ones that didn''t make it". Most me would watch if they couldn''t dance as long as clothes were coming off. How about one for women to watch!

[yongamerica]

What a frivolous law suit. This strip bar is not in hte broadcast business, therefore a judge will rule that the strip club''s use of Idol does not infringe upon the American Idol trademark.

American Idol is such a sleazy program the nation should sue it for publicly stripping idiots of their dignity. Amazing what TV and people will do to for air time.

BOOOOOOOOOO American Idol. As for the strip club, that''s probably better entertainment, even if it was censored of frontal nudity.

[shanev137]

Strip clubs are a waste of time and money. If I want a woman for a night I just buy one.

[be_real]

Lawyers looking for job security

[dagrandma]

Is there a lawyer out there who can help me? I have the trademark on the word "idol" and have had the same for some time now. I used it more than 100 times in my book.

God