5631: Music Rights And Wrongs.

Banding together with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Mickey D’s might have to change its name to Mickey Devo’s. Seems the recording artists known as Devo are suing the fast feeder for copyright infringement. Mickey D’s created a series of Happy Meals figures with an “American Idol” theme, and the “New Wave Nigel” character bears an uncanny resemblance to Devo members—plus, the toy plays a tune similar to Devo’s “Doctor Detroit.” A Devo band member said, “We are in the midst of suing them. This New Wave Nigel doll that they’ve created is just a complete Devo rip-off, and the red hat is exactly the red hat that I designed, and it’s copyrighted and trademarked. They didn’t ask us anything. … We don’t like McDonald’s, and we don’t like ‘American Idol,’ so we’re doubly offended.” Guess this means they won’t be participating in the Big Mac Chant-Off.

• Otis Williams, the last surviving original Temptation, is suing a group for using the iconic name and performing nationwide. While the new group does feature a former Temptation, they don’t have the rights to the legendary name. “You got promoters trying to be nickel slick,” said Williams, who still performs with the real band. “It confuses our fans until they get there and … they are disappointed.” Guess some folks think all Temptations look alike.