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'Naked Cowboy' Sues for $6 Million

Reuters
Posted: 2008-02-14 17:04:32
Filed Under: Weird News
NEW YORK (Feb. 13) - New York City street performer "The Naked Cowboy " is suing Mars Inc. for $6 million over the use of his trademark look -- white underwear, cowboy boots and a hat -- by a blue M&M candy on a Times Square billboard.

For nearly a decade, Robert Burck has been a fixture in Times Square, where he strums a guitar on a street corner while dressed in his skimpy signature costume.

In a lawsuit filed this week in Manhattan federal court, Burck said that two oversized Times Square billboards that promote M&Ms used his look without compensating him.

The billboards feature a scantily clad blue M&M with a guitar alongside views of New York including street scenes and the Statue of Liberty.

Burck is suing privately held Mars Inc., which makes M&Ms, and Chute Gerdeman Inc., an Ohio agency that he said created the ad, for trademark infringement.

Neither company was immediately available for comment.

"Just like The Naked Cowboy does on a daily basis in Times Square, the M&M is not only dressed as "The Naked Cowboy ," it is playing the Naked Cowboy 's distinctive white guitar in the cartoon," the lawsuit said.

Mars and Chute Gerdeman "decided to exploit and trade upon The Naked Cowboy 's well-recognized likeness without a license and without furnishing any compensation," the lawsuit said.

Burck has trademarked his signature look and has made several television and movie appearances in costume, including for a televised audition on the "American Idol" reality TV program, the lawsuit said. (Reporting by Edith Honan, Editing by Michelle Nichols and Xavier Briand)

Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-02-14 08:26:20
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dshot59 09:41:51 PM May 16 2008

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what a tard .

lldasljjxlol 12:12:53 PM Mar 01 2008

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Where wealthy men and beautiful women find each other easily:
http://millionairemate.com/go/g944240-pmem

midwestmud4x4 04:19:49 PM Feb 29 2008

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THAT IS SOOOOOO WRONG ON SOOOOOOOO MANY LEVELS!!

midwestmud4x4 03:59:33 PM Feb 29 2008

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DISTURBING.............VERY DISTURBING

reedm002 07:53:27 AM Feb 25 2008

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only in New York, can you make a mark for yourself by being different, but able to sing and dance. More power to him for creating his own niche.

sortaxpretty 10:44:48 PM Feb 20 2008

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losers

jgreen85222 05:52:41 PM Feb 19 2008

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madam try it in iraq see how long you keep your head

alansells2 05:10:25 PM Feb 19 2008

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pikepainting 03:19:15 PM Feb 19 2008

Report This! The guy looks like a fag that enjoys anal *******.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

So that's what those people look like. I wouldn't know, but I suppose I'll have to take the word of one who knows. Thanks...

jusjazzbaby 03:43:30 PM Feb 19 2008

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People also has to have something to talk about....Leave the man alone shit who cares what he wears, he jus doesnt have nothing else better to do....Someone somewhere must have told him he looked good like that....So u go Boy..

sonicx1986 11:10:44 AM Feb 19 2008

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Brokeback Mountain wannabe

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