Hip-hop star Dr. Dre just lost a dispute against a male gynecologist who was trying to get the name Dr. Drai trademarked.
Dr. Dre (whose real name is Andre Young) filed a formal complaint against Draion M. Burch, a Pennsylvania-based gynecologist, way back in 2015. He claimed that the doctor’s “Dr. Drai” nickname would confuse consumers, as Burch planned to bolster his business by selling audiobooks and offer web seminars using the byname.
Well, this week, nearly three years later, The US Patent and Trademark Office ruled to dismiss the case after Young failed to prove how a customer might confuse a hip hop artist named “Dr. Dre” with an OBGYN named “Dr. Drai.”
During the court hearing, Burch testified that he had no interest in trading on Dre’s name and reputation, saying it would be “a bad reflection on me as a doctor,” specially because of Dr. Dre’s homophobic and misogynistic lyrics.
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In 2015, data analysts at the blog Rapalytics analyzed more than 1,000 albums and 150 rappers for their lyrics and found that Dr. Dre ranked #1 for being the “most profane”, using more swear words, homophobic slurs, and sexual references than any other rapper.
“I was just appalled how someone would think that I wanted to be them,” Burch said in court this week, before adding, “I actually went to medical school.”
The OBGYN went on to say it’s highly unlikely his moniker would confuse anyone given that “Dr. Dre is not a medical doctor, nor is he qualified to provide any type of medical services or sell products specifically in the medical or healthcare industry.”
In the end, the board ruled that “[t]he issue is not whether purchasers would confuse the goods or services but whether there is a likelihood of confusion as to the source of the goods or services.”
Dr. Dre has not issued a comment on the ruling.
Smith David
Same
DarkZephyr
“Burch testified that he had no interest in trading on Dre’s name and reputation, saying it would be “a bad reflection on me as a doctor,” specially because of Dr. Dre’s homophobic and misogynistic lyrics.”
If this argument is what won him his case, then you’re incorrect.
demetreus
KUDOS to the editors and the moderators who are deleting inappropriate comments!
Heywood Jablowme
Dr. Dre’s degree is in proctology, right? So there couldn’t be any confusion!
Roldan856
Haha! But in all serious he didn’t lose the case because of his homophobia he lost because there was no confusion between a rapper and a real doctor
QueerTruth
Correct. Like my comment.
The title of this article is misleading and false.
Dr. Dre did not lose the case because of “anti-gay” comments. This is not true whatsoever. It’s a false claim. And the fact that Queerty removes these comments demonstrate that they know this is wrong.
James
Dr. Dre is a creep.
QueerTruth
The headline is false….
Dr Dre did not lose his case because of anti-gay lyrics. PERIOD.
The author’s conclusion is completely made up and misleading.
I keep saying this and you keep deleting my posts, but facts are facts.