mentor: blog 
mentor's blog
naked cowboy gets paid...
Published Jun. 25, 2008
NEW YORK (CNN) -- An underpants-clad New York guitarist known as the "Naked Cowboy" can proceed with his trademark infringement lawsuit against the maker of M&Ms and its ad agency, a New York judge has ruled. The Naked Cowboy is part of the scenery at New York's Times Square. Robert Burck has become a fixture in Times Square for playing the guitar dressed in a white cowboy hat, white cowboy boots and white underpants while tourists pose with him for pictures and slip money into his boots. In February, the street performer filed a lawsuit against Mars Inc. and Chute Gerdeman Inc., after they released a video billboard showing a guitar-playing blue M&M dressed in a white cowboy hat, cowboy boots and underpants. The company also ran print ads showing a similar yellow M&M. Burck says in his lawsuit that he has registered trademarks to the Naked Cowboy name and likeness. The lawsuit alleges that the ads violate Burck's right to privacy and infringe on his trademark by "using his likeness, persona, and image for commercial purposes without his written permission and by falsely suggesting that he endorses M&M candy."
Wow...this has to be the first "street-performer" who has this kind of brand recognition! :-) Who knew he would have the foresight to trademark his image? Not as crazy as he seems, apparently.
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I remember him from Cristina's Court. His girlfriend was opposed to him having a web cam in their bedroom showing 24 hours a day what was going on. She didn't mind the rest of the house but she wanted one room for privacy. The judge made him put a coat on because he was in court. She did let him take it off to let him play and sing for her.
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The bizarre things people will do...at least he's in shape.
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