Metallica are a world-renowned and multi-platinum-selling musical group and owner of many of the trademarks and copyrights that have earned them widespread recognition by virtue of the band’s remarkable success and 34-year existence.
We know this because the recent cease-and-desist letter they sent a small-time tribute band in Canada makes it very clear. What it also makes clear is that Metallica freaking love them some litigation, even if it’s against a band with just over 1,000 Facebook followers.
As Rock Feed reports, Sandman, Canada’s Tribute To Metallica, were served with a 41-page cease-and-desist direct from the desk of Metallica’s lawyers right before they were set to take the stage at one of their recent gigs.
“Metallica owns, and has registered, their name and trademark METALLICA”, the letter informs the band members, before making it a point to explain just how fantastically successful Metallica are (y’know, multi-platinum and whatnot).
According to the document, the tribute band have been using their “official, stylized” logo when distributing information to bring attention to their gigs, referencing its use on Sandman’s Facebook and YouTube profiles.
Considering how much money a Canadian Metallica tribute band must make and how much business they’re assuredly taking away from the real Metallica, we can understand where Lars and co are coming from.
However, it doesn’t appear like the members of Sandman are taking the legal action too seriously. Responding to the letter on his Facebook page, member Joe Di Taranto simply wrote, “Quite funny! LOL!”
