Mariah Carey to porn star: We do not belong together
Last Updated: Sunday, December 10, 2006 | 2:22 PM ET
CBC Arts
Pop singer Mariah Carey has threatened legal action against a porn star because the porn star wants to trademark the similar-sounding name of Mary Carey.
Singer Mariah Carey, above, has threated legal action against a porn actress who is trying to trademark her stage name Mary Carey.
(Canadian Press)
The singer — who dominated the pop charts during the 1990s with songs such as I'll Be There, Dreamlover and Fantasy then won a Grammy in 2005 for the single We Belong Together — sent the porn actress a letter warning her to withdraw the application or face a lawsuit.
"This is a technical procedure to stop a trademark registration. Mariah Carey has no affiliation with Mary Carey," said Mariah Carey's spokeswoman, Leslie Sloane-Zelnik.
Billboard magazine has listed Mariah Carey, now, 36, as the bestselling artist of the 1990s. She suffered a breakdown in 2001 after being dropped from Virgin Records and receiving poor reviews for her film Glitter. But she had a major comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi, the best-selling pop album of 2005 .
Mary Carey, whose real name is Mary Cook, is likely best-known for running for California governor against Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003 and coming in 10th in a field of 135 candidates. The 26-year-old performer attempted another run in 2006 but dropped out to take care of her ailing mother.
She started using the stage name in 2002 and filed the trademark papers in early 2006.
'My first thought was, does Mariah Carey realize what her lawyer is comparing her to and are they seriously concerned? Do they seriously think the fans are going to be confused?'-Mary Carey's lawyer, David Beitchman
Her lawyer, David Beitchman, said the singer's claim that fans could confuse the two is unfounded.
"My first thought was, does Mariah Carey realize what her lawyer is comparing her to and are they seriously concerned?" Beitchman said. "Do they seriously think the fans are going to be confused?"
Beitchman's client has starred in films such as Double Air Bags 11 and Boobsville Sorority Girls. Mary Carey has said she's amused by the legal battle.
"It's kind of funny because I'm a porn star and I've been being myself for a long time. I think she's being silly."
With files from the Associated PressShare Tools
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