For some time, Robert Burck (a.k.a. the Naked Cowboy) has been a regular in Times Square. Apparently his presence has been documented for nearly a decade. Burck is originally from Cincinnati. He plays a white guitar clad only in underwear briefs. Burck poses for pictures with tourists and sings in his briefs, despite the weather. Recently M & M s Candy has used an image similar to Burck in it's adds. Burch has struck back by filing a law suit seeking $6 million in damages. Defendants Mars Inc. and Chute Gerdeman Inc., (an Ohio agency that created the ad) deny any trademark infringement.
The M&M does appear to dress similar to the 'The Naked Cowboy.' The M.M. also plays a white guitar in the cartoon. One wonders if that will be enough to warrant six million dollars worth of compensation?
Update 6-24-08: Preliminary victory for the Naked Cowboy! A preliminary ruling by U.S. District Judge Denny Chin (New York judge) determined that he can proceed with his trademark infringement lawsuit against the candy maker and its ad agency. AP Photos Courtesy of Getty Images
Update 10-5-10: According to the New York Post, Robert John Burck is set to announce his presidential bid. Let's hope he does better than when he tried to run for mayor.
Now the boy is good looking. If he wins the $6 Million, then we will talk!
ReplyDeleteShell
Law suits? It's Monday. I would rather deal with swim suits:
ReplyDeletehttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2008_swimsuit/cheerleaders/?bcnn=yes
Surfer Dude
David Tarloff is arrested for Dr. Faughey's murder and a naked man in a cowboy hat is the lead story? What gives?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, the David Tarloff arrest is covered in the Dr. Faughey story as an update. Relax. America needs a singing Cowboy in New York to keep spirits up.
ReplyDeleteShell,
ReplyDeleteyou beat me to it! I'd take him home, clean him up and buy him some nice clothes . . . he is a cutie!
On another note, I can't believe Mars didn't have their corporate lawyers stop this ad. It is clearly a parody of him.
Thanks for the chuckle this morning. I think we all needed it after last week's depressing news.
Not sure I would bother to clean or cloth him... I would take him just as he is...
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Bet he freezes his.... off in that skimpy outfit!
ReplyDeleteWhat is this Play Girl? Photo of a man in his underwear? What has become of our justice system? I want to examine the briefs on this suit.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Except what??? (response to Warren Buffet post)
ReplyDeleteI saw this cowboy this past summer in Time Square. I hope he wins some money and buys himself some pants.
Do you mind if I put the link to your post on my page???
COMEDYSECRETS.BLOGSPOT.COM
He's gonna need an attorney that prefers briefs over boxers.
ReplyDeleteLegal briefs v. Hanes...
ReplyDeleteeither way pretty cold.
Roberts a keeper...
ReplyDeleteGinger
Roberts so delicious now we have reason to call him the candy man.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
The candy man can cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good...
ReplyDeleteCocky but right?
ReplyDeleteBurck bucks the establishment in round one. Ding. Ding. Beginning of round two.
ReplyDeletethis hunk is a 200 pounds, 6 feet 3 object of desire for most women on New York City's Times Square. Seldom do staring women even notice that what he is actually strumming is a guitar.
ReplyDeleteUpdate 10-5-10: According to the New York Post, Robert John Burck is set to announce his presidential bid. Let's hope he does better than when he tried to run for mayor.
ReplyDelete