LONDON — Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has reportedly dropped a U.S. trademark case against Screaming O Pleasure Products’ parent companies Pacific Holdings and Momentum Management over their RingO penis rings, after a settlement was reached.
Pacific Holdings and Momentum Management have agreed to “avoid any activity likely to lead to confusion” between the penis rings and the musician, to add a space between “Ring” and “O,” and to only use the name for adult sex aids and desensitizing sprays.
Starr had “challenged the RingO trademark, saying it’s too similar to his name and might cause confusion,” the BBC reported today.
Starr’s lawyers argued that “his reputation would be damaged if the RingO name was registered as a trademark with US authorities,” but “he has now withdrawn his complaint after reaching an agreement with the manufacturers,” according to the BBC.
Starr’s complaint claimed that the penis ring’s name was “identical in appearance, sound, connotation and pronunciation” to his long-trademarked performing name. Starr’s birth name is Richard Starkey but has been known since his earliest professional musician days in Liverpool in the early 1960s as “Ringo,” because of his penchant for drumming while wearing flashy rings.
Starr was an in-demand local young musician in the summer of 1962, when he was invited to join The Beatles as a replacement for their original drummer Pete Best.
Starr’s lawyers claimed that consumers “will likely believe that Opposer’s [Starr’s] newest venture is sex toys — and this is an association that Opposer does not want,” adding their client “wants nothing to do with the goods,” because the association could tarnish his “name, likeness and brand.”
The BBC reports that “the companies have pledged not to ‘degrade, tarnish or deprecate or disparage’ Starr’s name or image. They also said they wouldn’t make any reference or innuendo associating the product with Starr, or give the impression that he’s associated with it.”