Empire

EMPIRE In Legal Fight Over Use Of Show Title From Record Label!

March 24, 2015

Courtesy/FOX

Another legal dispute involving a soap opera? Shocking? … not for daytime or primetime soap fans.

News today via TMZ has that a legal battle is brewing between Fox and their hit show Empire, and a company known as Empire Distribution, a record label that has many well-known artists attached to it including: Kendrick Lamar, N.O.R.E, and Sean Paul.

TMZ is reporting that the the label claims Fox has no right to use the name Empire because the show tarnishes its brand. Empire Distribution has claimed it’s being hurt because the fictitious label on the show is run by a ‘homophobic drug dealer prone to murdering his friends.”‘

However, it looks like Empire Distribution is willing to deal with the name if they get some green moolah! They say they will take $8 million to settle this dispute and $5 million if the show uses Empire Distribution’s artists as regulars on the series! Fox has countered filing a lawsuit by asking a judge to declare Empire Distribution’s demand bogus.

So, what do you think of this lawsuit and the claims by Empire Distribution soap fans? Comment below!

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Guest

richard

Oh now that the show is that talk of Hollywood, NOW yall wanna sue?? Please, have several seats!!! #haters

Guest

jimh(leave it to beaver)

Its all about the moolah…nothing else…if it tarnishes their image as they so claim, why would Empire Distrubition want any part of it? MONEY, MONEY, MONEY! I bet there wouldve been no fuss hadnt Empire not been the most talked about show of the season!!!

Guest

Anacarrie

Ridiculous. Every time I turn around; someone tries to attack the show. Whatever.

Guest

jonboy

Once something is successful all the roaches come out of the woodwork with tentacles out for a piece of the pie.

Guest

sonniorsolita

Bogus demands? I don’t think so. Fox created a fictitious label and apparently used a real-life label’s name without permission! Uh, hello? Where was the legal team’s due diligence. Sounds like a legitimate complaint, and Fox’s legal team should be shown the door!

Guest

su0000

There are thousands of Empire labels..
Empire Carpet for one ..
Question is; who owns the word Empire? .. lol

Guest

ED justs wants a cut of the action. Don’t blame them for trying, but anyone who can’t tell fiction from reality isn’t worth it.

Guest

Nick D.

Nice try, but association with the #1 on TV does not “tarnish a brand.” This lawsuit will not survive a motion to dismiss. “Empire” is about as generic a name as one can dream up for this sort of show and/or a record label. They also made a huge mistake by saying they’ll take less if the stars of the label get to be on the series – undermines their entire argument that the series tarnishes the brand. The label needs to fire these attorneys – this lawsuit was dreamed up by the attorneys to make $$$$ because it has… Read more »

Guest

vinman

THE ALMIGHTY –
DO
RA
ME
$

Guest

Lawrence

All I can say is lol. Should have done some research

Guest

Rose

Another frivolous lawsuit. It’s all about the money, publicity, and ambulance chasing lawyers. So maybe one of other companies that have Empire as part of their name should sue Fox or Empire Distribution for tarnishing their companies name with the bad publicity generated by either/both a homophobic father or questionable lyrics in some hip-hop lyrics. Or sounding too much like a Marvin Gaye song.

Guest

Julie Haze

Hollywood: Home of Whores.

Guest

Rebecca1

Ha! Maybe Baretti’s behind it!

Guest

Torqumada

Bye, Felicia.

Meritless

Guest

Patrick

thee #1 show of all time… or near that…
and… thee #1 album…. soundtrack… also a record… coming from a tv show

which bums me out… with regard to album debuts

it beat out Madonna : “rebel heart” which came in at #2

Guest

Patrick

#1 show of all time… if you factor it in all the criteria

impressive

I’m so happy for the whole cast

simply have got to give prop to Taraji P Henson and Terence Howard

“thank you”

Guest

Liam

Patrick, I like the show and ratings are pretty great, but why are you saying it’s the #1 show or near that of all time? That is simply not true.

Guest

NY state is suing as well, claiming Fox stole the name from them, the Empire State.

Guest

Mary SF

I might have believed them if they didn’t throw in that bit about having their own artists featured on the show– that demand throws their case out the window. Otherwise I did think they had a case– not that I think anyone really would confuse the a real company with a fictitious one, but just the possibility it could should have been enough to get some cash out of Fox, not eight million dollars, but something —- of course their motive is money and self promotion, but a lot of civil lawsuits are about that and that is why judges… Read more »

Guest

Cameron Williams

haters just want money . I love Emipre

Guest

rebecca1

they’re not haters…they just want compensation…or publicity. whether they’ve got a case is for the lawyer’s to decide…but I doubt they’re hatin’.

Empire

‘Empire’ Favorite Taraji P. Henson to Host the American Music Awards

November 2, 2020

She played the fierce head of record label and music empire on TV, and now she is about to take on the hosting duties at one of music’s most popular nights of the year, when she hosts ABC’s American Music Awards. News today has former Empire on Fox star, Taraji P. Henson (Ex-Cookie Lyon) taking on the key role in keeping the night moving and the music coming for music fans around the world.

The 2020 AMAs will air live on Sunday, November 22nd at 8:00 PM ET/PT. In a statement on her latest gig, Henson expressed: “The AMAs brings together the music community to celebrate what really drives all artists – the fans, I’m proud to take the stage as this year’s host – and also a fan – for what promises to be an electrifying night of music.”

And coming up the motion picture and television actress will put a spotlight on mental wellness in a new talk show for Facebook Watch. In addition, she is also currently developing an Empire spinoff with her production company.

Broadcasting live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, this year’s AMA nominees include The Weeknd and rapper Roddy Ricch, both with eight nominations, leading the pack of this year’s nominees. Voting for the AMA’s continues and you can a vote in all categories here.

So, it seems to us that Taraji will be a great host for the AMA’s! What are your thoughts? Comment below.

Breaking News

‘Empire’s’ Diamond White Lands Contract Role on The Bold and the Beautiful

September 17, 2020

Look for The Bold and the Beautiful to add to their cast with news on Thursday that Diamond White (previously see on Empire as Lala) will take on the role of Zoe’s (Kiara Barnes)sister, Paris Buckingham on the CBS daytime drama.

Paris and Zoe are the daughters of crime-ridden Dr. Reese Buckingham (Wayne Brady) who was sent to the slammer for his baby-switch plot involving baby Beth and his gambling debts.

White will begin taping her new role tomorrow on Friday, and will first are on the November 2nd episode of B&B. Deadline first reported the news.

Besides her role on Empire, Diamond has had a recurring role on Netflix’s Dear White People, as well as a guest art on ABC’s Fresh off the Boat, and more,

Looks like the Buckingham sisters might have their eyes set on Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) , the incoming Zende (Delon de Metz) and who knows who else on the canvas!

So, what do you think about a new Buckingham in the mix on B&B? Comment below.

Breaking News

Taraji P. Henson Developing Cookie Lyon ‘Empire’ Spinoff With New First-Look Deal Via 20th Century Fox

July 23, 2020

Looks like more ‘Cookie’ is on the way, if this long bantered about Empire spinoff takes place. But, news today via Deadline makes the whole thing look more promising! Series star, Taraji P. Henson has signed a new first-look deal with 20th Century Fox where she would star and be one of the EP’s of the new show.

The show would be written by Empire EP Danny Strong with Stacy A. Littlejohn and Yolonda Lawrence, and Empire director Sanaa Hamri to take those reins again behind the camera.

Henson said in a statement on the deal: “I believe that normalizing stories around stigmatizing matters will make them more palatable for audiences to embrace. Art can change perception and I plan to develop projects that can help further the conversation. I also aim to help cultivate and establish new young talent and their stories because they are our future and deserve a voice and a platform to be heard. I’m so excited to have 20th, led by the talented Carolyn Cassidy, support me in this new endeavor!”

20th Century Fox TV president Carolyn Cassidy shared on Thursday: “We were lucky to have a front row seat to Taraji’s meteoric rise as a fixture on television through Empire. Through that relationship everyone at the company grew to appreciate her passion for storytelling and her strong creative gut instinct. With Empire finished we look forward to helping her explore stories that need to be told through her talent and advocacy.”

Empire ended its sixth and final season a bit shorter than expected due to COVID-19 shutting down production, but now Henson has a way forward to tell us more of Cookie’s story. This would just be one of the projects Henson would have under this deal with 20th Century Fox.

So, would you like to see more Cookie Lyon in a spinoff of Empire? Comment below.