February 05, 2010

By By Ayala Ben-Yehuda, L.A.

Houston-based Apodaca Promotions has won a judgment of $100,000 plus attorneys' fees and interest against parties it sued last year over alleged trademark infringement and unfair competition with Colombian cumbia act La Sonora Dinamita.

Apodaca sued Arlington, Texas, residents Brigida and Vicky Rodriguez, Houston-based J Mart?nez Enterprises, El Portal de la Fantasia and Escapade Houston Corporation last July for allegedly promoting and advertising shows by another group advertised as La Sonora Dinamita.

Apodaca exclusively licenses La Sonora Dinamita's trademark from Medellin-based Discos Fuentes in promoting the group's shows in the U.S. and Mexico.

Court documents show the defendants denied the allegations and claimed they were not responsible for "acts, if any, by any employees that were not authorized by defendants." Calls to the defendants' attorneys were not returned at press time.

Legal disputes over band names are common, particularly after an established group has broken up and former members separately lay claim to the name. Blockbuster duranguense group Alacranes Musical hasn't released an album since it split in two last year, with both sides continuing to perform live as Alacranes Musical and battling in court over the right to record under the name.

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