Chi-Rock Takes Next Step in Trademark Dispute with "Twista"

Despite efforts to get another hip-hop artist from using his trademark, the South Chicago musician Faheem Shabazz (BigFa), has retained the Law Offices of John R. Mugno, a New York City Intellectual Property law firm to forward a cease-and-desist letter to Twista and Chi-Roc Entertainment, Inc., the corporation that was recently formed by Twista.

(PRWEB) November 15, 2005 -- Despite efforts to get another hip-hop artist from using his trademark, the South Chicago musician Faheem Shabazz (BigFa), has "retained the Law Offices of John R. Mugno, a New York City Intellectual Property law firm to forward a cease-and-desist letter to Twista and Chi-Roc Entertainment, Inc., the corporation that was recently formed by Twista.

BigFa claims he has used the Chi-Rock name since 1985 to identify his own brand of music and objects to Twista using the name “Chi Rock”

Faheem said about Mitchell: "I am not surprised that Twista is portraying himself as the victim here. He has a reputation in the music industry for breaking legal agreements at will"

In a statement issued over the website www.bet.com, Mitchell said, "Many thought of it [my company named 'Chi-Roc' as an honor and a tribute to the original Chi-Rock Hip Hop Nation members and the hip hop movement in Chicago."

But Faheem has countered, "He's acting like we should be honored because he has stolen our name to make a profit. If I paid tribute to Mickey D's by opening one, what would "Ronald" do? I've tried to communicate with him for two years but to no avail."

"The reason he wanted Chi-Roc/k was because he thought that he was going to sign with the ROC, ["Roc"afella Records but the deal didn't go through," Faheem says.

"We have always supported Twista because he is one of Chicago's own, but now we have no other choice than to defend our treasured name which is at stake within the hip-hop community," Faheem says.

A federal trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office has been filed under United States Trademark Serial Application No. 78/751,401 for the mark CHI-ROCK.

Editors: high-resolution digital photographs are available upon request.

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