Iron Maiden is one of the most well-merchandised bands in history. Metal bands just have that appeal, and their committed fans love showing their support on T-shirts. Even this far into a decades-spanning career, Iron Maiden apparel is still pretty common, thanks in part to millennial influencers and celebrities turning old metal T-shirts into high fashion.
Even with all of the clout that Iron Maiden has accumulated, they still need to be careful to protect their intellectual property, it seems. The band reportedly has taken legal action against a lingerie brand called Maiden Wear, hoping to block the company’s trademark on the basis that people would think it was associated with the band.
“The dominant term in applicant’s Maiden Wear mark is ‘Maiden,’ and therefore the mark is confusingly similar in appearance and connotation to opposer’s Iron Maiden mark,” the filing says, according to Complete Music Update.
Maiden Wear specializes in items like corsets, shapewewar, bras, lingerie, and other underwear. While Iron Maiden’s own online store doesn’t sell any of that, as Complete Music Update pointed out, the band does sell boxer shorts. So, technically, they are in the underwear business.
“Moreover, the goods set forth in the Maiden Wear application are related to or the same goods covered by the Iron Maiden registration and/or for which opposer has acquired common law rights in the United States,” the filing says.
I guess, technically, you could look at it in terms of both companies trying to sell apparel, if you want to look at it generally.
“Thus, applicant’s Maiden Wear mark, when used in connection with the goods described in the Maiden Wear application, is likely to deceive or cause consumer confusion or mistake among members of the public and potential purchasers as to the source, sponsorship or composition of applicant’s goods in relation to opposers goods,” the filing continues. “Such confusion will damage opposer and injure its reputation in the trade and with the public.”
Yes, there might be some metalhead fans who think less of Iron Maiden for suddenly selling lingerie. But, honestly, others might think it’s a cool move for the band. But, if Iron Maiden ever wants to get into that side of the apparel business down the road, this is a worthy legal undertaking.
This is a little more reasonable than some other intellectual property lawsuits we’ve seen lately, like when Adidas went after Thom Browne over horizontal stripes and lost. This at least has some shared verbiage, so the possibility of confusion is there.
Plus, with so many older bands transitioning from touring and recording acts to legacy brands (a la Slayer), Iron Maiden needs to do everything it can to protect its own merchandise interests.
