A long-running feud between the two heirs to the Ramones' estate has intensified, with a new lawsuit revealing that Joey's brother, Mitchell Hyman, is accusing Johnny's widow, Linda Cummings-Ramone, of violating federal trademark law by used Ramone's name. for her benefit.
The feud between the two parties isn't without precedent — Johnny and Joey had a rocky (pun intended) relationship with each other, which has apparently been passed down to their heirs. The two bandmates did not see eye to eye on many levels, including politics (Johnny was a staunch Republican while Joey was a liberal). However, the icing on the cake for their feud is likely Linda leaving Joey (the pair were engaged for some time) for Johnny. This tension has carried over to Mitchell and Linda, who have a long history of disputes over control of the group's legacy.
Together, Mitchel and Linda are the sole shareholders (with equal 50/50 shares) in Ramones Productions Inc., the holding company that controls the group's intellectual property rights. Earlier this year, Linda sued Mitchel, accusing him of unfairly creating a Ramones biopic without her approval, calling it a one-sided recitation. While that case remains pending, Mitchell has countersued with a trademark infringement suit. The latest lawsuit isn't the first time Mitchel has objected to Linda's use of her last name; or previous lawsuit details a conflict that involved “prolonged attacks on Linda's ability to freely use her legal name 'Linda Ramone' on her social media accounts and otherwise.”
Surname Ramone it wasn't the real last name of any group member, and none were related; rather, it was a pseudonym they all adopted (inspired by Paul McCartney, which would be used by Paul Ramon when recording in hotels). According to the lawsuit, Linda began taking the name “Ramone” only after her husband's death. In addition to referring to Linda as a former “groupie,” the lawsuit alleges that she is exploiting the group's name, goodwill and legacy “for her fame and vanity” and has has infringed on its trademarks held by Ramones Productions using them themselves. The suit further alleges that prior legal proceedings and agreements have limited how Linda can use the name, but that she has “repeatedly exceeded those restrictions” to falsely portray the person as the sole heir to the estate. of Ramone.
A referee has scolded both sides of their relentless and frequent battles, writing that instead of protecting the iconic brand, “the parties have allowed their personal egos and animosity for each other to interfere with their shared obligations.”