Makers Of ‘American Idol’ Threaten To Sue Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken officials may put the kibosh on the name “Sinatra Idol” for the city’s annual event honoring hometown hero Frank Sinatra after the producers of hit show “American Idol” threatened to sue the municipality for copyright infringement.

On Tuesday, the office of Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced that the city’s annual celebration – known as “Sinatra Idol” – is the target of a cease and desist order from entertainment giant FremantleMedia, which also produces shows such as The Price Is Right, Family Feud and Ice Road Truckers.

In a September 17 letter to Hoboken Cultural Affairs Administrator Geri Fallo, attorneys representing FremantleMedia North America Inc. wrote that their client believes the use of the word “Idol” in connection with talent competitions “mimics the Idol marks.” As a result, the city’s “Sinatra Idol” competition is likely to lead the public to believe that there is some connection or association with the American Idol brand, the company charged.

FremantleMedia’s attorneys demanded that the city permanently cease and desist from using the “Idol” moniker by Oct. 12.

According to Bhalla’s office, Sinatra Idol is not televised, doesn’t offer recording contracts and “in no way makes a dent in American Idol’s bottom line.”

But regardless, it may not be a battle worth fighting.

“Sinatra Idol is a Hoboken institution… it’s not going anywhere,” Bhalla emphasized. “We must preserve Sinatra Idol, but Hollywood will sue if we don’t change Sinatra Idol’s name. We discussed alternatives like 'The Sinatra Voice' or 'The S Factor,' but we thought it might be best for Hoboken to suggest new names for Sinatra Idol.”

As such, the city is taking a survey for possible new names for the contest (see the online survey here). The survey to rename Sinatra Idol will be open until Oct. 9. After that, the Department of Cultural Affairs, which organizes Sinatra Idol every year, will choose and unveil a new name for Sinatra Idol, “which is not and has never been associated with American Idol, FremantleMedia, or Jordin Sparks,” city officials said.

“It’s important that we stop using the name Sinatra Idol,” Hoboken City Communications Manager Santiago Melli-Huber said. “Some residents may want to tweet at American Idol, whose Twitter handle is @AmericanIdol, asking them to simply enter into a contract with the city, which we requested and they refused, to allow us to use the name Sinatra Idol for a harmless impersonation contest. But that’s not what they want. They want us to stop saying Sinatra Idol, so let’s respect their lawyers’ whims and not blow up their mentions by tweeting ‘Sinatra Idol’ to @AmericanIdol.”

Patch has reached out to FremantleMedia seeking comment and will include any reply we receive in this article.

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Photo via City of Hoboken