Legal Rights to Bill Monroe’s Name

Bill Monroe was a bluegrass music legend, and Campbell Mercer organizes The Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Music Festival in his honor.  The problem is, he may not be able to use Monroe’s likeness or name to promote the festival that honors him.  

Thirteen years ago, Ohio County and the county industrial foundation bought the rights to Monroe’s name and image.  Currently, Mr. Mercer is battling the county to see whether they ever gave Mercer’s organization the right to use Monroe’s name. Regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome, Mercer believes that the county will eventually decide to use Monroe’s name to promote the festival to honor the legendary musician. 

See Brett Barrouquere, Legal Fight Waged For Right to Bill Monroe’s Name, mySA, Oct. 4, 2012. 

Special thanks to J. Barrett Shipp (Associate Attorney, Heinriches & De Gennaro, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.  .