When a particular name or brand becomes extremely popular, it is no surprise that there will be attempts by certain parties to make huge profit off of it. Such is the case with Fox's hit television series 'Empire,' whose series title is being used by a record label to demand eight million dollars from the network for using the name. According to an article published by the Huffington Post, Twentieth Century Fox Television has recently filed a lawsuit against Empire Distribution, Inc. so that the former could continue using the title for their television series.
The lawsuit stemmed from a claim made by Empire Distribution that the Fox television series has been "creating confusion with its artists" and that they should pay Empire for using the name or change the show's title entirely. According to a statement released last Tuesday by Ghizi Shami, the CEO of Empire Distribution, Inc. regarding the TV show:
"It isn't just a fictional show. They are functioning as a record label in the real world."
'Empire,' whose ratings have been steadily rising since its premiere, has become one of Fox's most successful television series, with more than 17 million viewers watching the finale for its first season. The show, which is about Lucious Lyon, ficticious owner of a music and entertainment company, has been criticized by Empire Distribution for threatening to tarnish the record label's business because of the title character's "violent tendencies and homophobia."
Fox however, remains adamant in stating that 'Empire' is a fictional television series and that Empire Distribution's actions "threatens to place a cloud over Fox's intellectual property rights in the fictional television series 'Empire' and the Soundtrack Music."
Fox's lawsuit against Empire Distributions was first made public by The Hollywood Reporter on March 24.
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