Eminem has asked the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to grant him a protective order from having to appear in person for a deposition amid an ongoing trademark dispute with Real Housewives of Potomac stars Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon.
The 51-year-old artist, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, filed papers December 15 requesting he be permitted to skip a deposition with the Bravo personalities, AllHipHop reported Friday after reviewing documents in the matter.
The Detroit native earlier this year filed paperwork against Bryant, 53, and Dixon, 44, opposing them receiving a trademark to call their podcast Reasonably Shady because it could ’cause confusion in the minds of consumers.’
In documents filed by the Grammy-winning rapper’s attorneys earlier this month, the rapper’s lawyers called the efforts of the Bravo stars to make him sit for a deposition ‘premature and procedurally improper.’
The Without Me artist’s lawyers said that Bryant and Dixon ‘have yet to serve’ Eminem ‘with a notice of deposition, a necessary prerequisite to taking and requesting that the Board compel a deposition.’
Eminem, 51, has asked the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to grant him a protective order from having to appear in person for a deposition amid an ongoing trademark dispute with Real Housewives of Potomac stars Gizelle Bryant, 53, and Robyn Dixon, 44. Pictured last year in LA
Bryant and Dixon, pictured last month in Las Vegas, have been involved in a trademark dispute with the artist this year
The Lose Yourself rapper’s legal team said that even if Eminem was put into the ‘unduly burdensome’ position of being deposed, it would not provide essential information in the case.
Eminem has a ‘limited knowledge of the subjects at issue’ and any information gleaned from questioning him would likely be ‘duplicative,’ as other professionals on his team possess a ‘superior knowledge of said issues.’
Bryant and Dixon ‘have made no attempt to obtain the discovery they seek via more convenient and less burdensome means,’ lawyers for the Love the Way You Lie performer told the TTAB.
Eminem’s lawyers said that three people on his team, including manager Paul Rosenberg, had ‘equal and superior knowledge to [him] on the relevant topics.’
Bryant and Dixon have ‘taken no depositions to date’ and made no ‘any attempt to assess whether they will be able to obtain the relevant information from said individuals,’ lawyers for Eminem said.
The lawyers asked the TTAB ‘to issue a protective order precluding the deposition of Marshall Mathers III.’
Eminem initially filed the opposition against the RHOP stars receiving a trademark for their Reasonably Shady podcast on February 14, according to Page Six.
Eminem said in the documents that his brand would be ‘damaged’ if the trademark was granted and said the trademark for the podcast might ’cause confusion in the minds of consumers.’
Eminem in February filed an opposition against a trademark application filed by Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon for their Reasonably Shady podcast
He also claimed the trademark for the podcast might, ’cause confusion in the minds of consumers’
The reality stars, who have both starred on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Potomac since it debuted in 2016, filed the trademark weeks earlier with the intent of selling merchandise under the podcast name
Eminem has owned the trademark for ‘Shady’ to be used on merchandise, and he has exclusively used either Slim Shady or for entertainment services since 1998.
Bryant and Dixon who have both starred on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Potomac since it debuted in 2016, filed the trademark weeks earlier with the intent of selling merchandise under the podcast name.
The duo plan on selling products such as water bottles, lip gloss, sweatshirts, hats, jackets and socks that would bear the podcast name.
Bryant and Dixon launched the Reasonably Shady podcast in November 2021, with new episodes dropping weekly every Monday.
The show ‘features conversations about being fearless women as they recount stories from their exciting lives.’
Bryant and Dixon delve into topics such as, ‘dating, relationships, marriage, entrepreneurs, motherhood, style, glam, current events and more.’
The show has been quite the success, nominated for Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards in 2022.
They both also celebrated passing the 5 million downloads milestone for their podcast earlier this year.
The duo sought to sell products such as water bottles, lip gloss, sweatshirts, hats, jackets and socks that would bear the podcast name. Pictured in 2022 in NYC
Bryant and Dixon launched the Reasonably Shady podcast in November 2021, with new episodes dropping weekly every Monday
The show ‘features conversations about being fearless women as they recount stories from their exciting lives’
Bryant took to Instagram in February to celebrate with her 709K followers with a heartfelt post.
‘SOOO EXCITED! Less than two years and our little @reasonablyshady podcast has over 5 MILLION downloads,’ Bryant began.
‘Thank you so much for listening! Thank you for the love and support! We totally appreciate being apart of the @blackeffectfamily. Thank you @iheartradio,’ she concluded.