There can be only one Oprah.
The legendary talk show host’s company, Harpo Inc., is suing the newbie podcasters behind “Oprahdemics,” a celebration of all thing O.
The podcast leads listeners to believe it has Winfrey’s blessing, the trademark infringement case in Manhattan Federal Court charges.
Kellie Carter Jackson and Leah Wright Rigueur are using the Oprahdemics name without permission, slapping it not just on their podcast but on live events as well, Harpo Inc. alleged in the legal papers.
The Oprah name packs a punch, according to the lawsuit.
“Over the past thirty-five plus years, the Oprah brand has become well known and famous,” Harpo contends in court papers. “Simply being associated with the Oprah brand has, in many cases, led to an exponential increase in a product’s or service’s sales. This has been colloquially referred to as the ‘The Oprah Effect’ or ‘The O Factor.’”
The first season of the Oprahdemics podcast series culminated in a live show
at the Tribeca Film Festival June 15. Following the event, Jackson and Rigueur hosted another even on Instagram Live on July 12, according to the complaint.
“Look under your seat… it’s a new podcast! Two historians (and friends) break down Oprah’s most iconic episodes, and what the Queen of Talk has meant for our culture,” the Oprahdemics website, which features Oprah’s signature “O” logo,” gushes about co-hosts Jackson and Rigueur.
Harpo, which is Oprah spelled backwards, isn’t seeking damages. The company wants the podcast to change its name so as not to “dilute” the brand, according to court papers.
Attorneys for Harpo, Inc. did not return messages.
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