Just Announced

[kosmo vinyl]

this would be a fine time for the real Cartel to bitch slap those fakers and force them to change their name seeing as they are established act using that name in the area... no name sullying can be had!

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
  this would be a fine time for the real Cartel to bitch slap those fakers and force them to change their name seeing as they are established act using that name in the area... no name sullying can be had!

the "other" Cartel are from Atlanta, signed with the Militia Group and are on Seattle band and labelmate Acceptance's national tour.  
 
  hopefully DC's Cartel has copywritten something.

[Bombay Chutney]

Originally posted by sonickteam4:
   hopefully DC's Cartel has copywritten something.

I'm pretty sure Fico said they have.  Still, I saw the other Cartel's CD in Tower the other day.  If I didn't know any better, I probably would have bought it.  They should really jump on this soon, if they can.

[brennser]

Juliana Hatfield is doing a Revolution Records in-store on Sat. Aug.13th at 4PM

[Bags]

Originally posted by brennser:
  Juliana Hatfield is doing a Revolution Records in-store on Sat. Aug.13th at 4PM

I would go to that in a hearbeat, but won't be in town.

[bellenseb]

I haven't been to Revolution in months. How is their stock doing? It was pretty thin last I was there.

[brennser]

neither have I, mainly for $$ reasons
 
 I must stop by in the next week or so - also, don't be afraid to email them and ask for stuff - they will gladly special order just about anything and, as I've said before, their prices are about as good as I've seen in the area
 
 

Originally posted by bellenseb:
  I haven't been to Revolution in months. How is their stock doing? It was pretty thin last I was there.

[Fico]

Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
   

Originally posted by sonickteam4:
   hopefully DC's Cartel has copywritten something.

I'm pretty sure Fico said they have.  Still, I saw the other Cartel's CD in Tower the other day.  If I didn't know any better, I probably would have bought it.  They should really jump on this soon, if they can. [/b]

We are aware of this..and believe us it's been a burden dealing with these clowns..the following letter was sent to Sonar a couple of weeks back:
 
 VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
 Sonar
 Attn: Legal Department
 407 E. Saratoga Street
 Baltimore, MD 21202
 
 Re: CARTEL Show 8/18/2005
 
 Dear Sirs and Madams:
 
 I have recently learned of a band scheduled to perform at your club on August 18, 2005 using the name CARTEL.  Unfortunately, my clients Ed Barnabas, Mark Hemingway, Francisco Lazzaro, Luke Mangels and Brian Leatherman also perform as CARTEL.
 
 It is possible that you are unaware of this conflict, so I believe that we should bring this matter to your attention.
 
 My clients have common law trademark protection over the name CARTEL in the state of Maryland.  Therefore, we must request that you immediately cease and desist promoting any show featuring any other band performing as CARTEL.  
 
 Likewise, we must request that you not permit this other band to perform at your establishment.  Should you continue promote the bandâ??s infringing use the mark, my clients will be forced to bring legal action against your club, including but not limited to an action for vicarious trademark infringement.  
 
 I feel obligated to inform you of their rights to prevent future problems.
 My clients and I hope to resolve this situation amicably and avoid any further legal remedies.  Please respond by letter indicating your intention to cease and desist the promotion of this infringing use of the mark CARTEL, or any confusingly similar mark, by August 4, 2005.
    
 Best regards.

[nkotb]

Far be it for me to give you any advice about your band, Fico, but I would back off the lawsuit kick.  I checked out the other Cartel online, and they've posted a picture where their singer was bleeding from an on-stage wound.  It was blood, Fico...honest to goodness blood!  I don't think you want any part of that...

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

Have you considered having your lawyer contactthis other band or their management as opposed to threatening venues who happen to book them?

[Fico]

Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
  Have you considered having your lawyer contactthis other band or their management as opposed to threatening venues who happen to book them?

That has obviously been the course we've taken. We've approached them literally dozens of times...and time and again they decide to ignore not just the situation, but the law. As soon as we started playing out and before we put our EP out we registered our name. Since September '04 we've tried time and again to find an amicable resolve to the situation (mind you we haven't asked a penny from them)...but they seem to be "punk rock" about it and just ignore it..that's not gonna cut it..people keep confusing our websites, people show up to each other shows, it's a mess..and not to sound arrogant but we're a thinking band..we are all professionals outside the band life and we've dealt with the situation as such. They are truly leaving us no other options...

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

Originally posted by Fico:
  That has obviously been the course we've taken. We've approached them literally dozens of times...and time and again they decide to ignore not just the situation, but the law. As soon as we started playing out and before we put our EP out we registered our name. Since September '04 we've tried time and again to find an amicable resolve to the situation (mind you we haven't asked a penny from them)...but they seem to be "punk rock" about it and just ignore it..that's not gonna cut it..people keep confusing our websites, people show up to each other shows, it's a mess..and not to sound arrogant but we're a thinking band..we are all professionals outside the band life and we've dealt with the situation as such. They are truly leaving us no other options...

Dude, just wait till they sell 100,000 copies of thier record to the absolutepunk kiddies then sue their label. It'll be funny if nothing else.   :p  
 
 But seriously, that's messed up.

[Fico]

[/qb][/QUOTE]Dude, just wait till they sell 100,000 copies of thier record to the absolutepunk kiddies then sue their label. It'll be funny if nothing else.    :p  
 
 But seriously, that's messed up. [/QB][/QUOTE]
 
 That's why we are trying to get the situation under control now...laws are rather weird in the entertainnment field.. for example, there's a good chance a band like say Franz Ferdinand doesn't have their name copyrighted in the US...yet you can't copyright the name tomorrow and sue them and win...it's all very murky...obviously the bigger they get, the more that they'll invest in Cartel as a "brand"...we don't have the bread right now to go to court and spend thousands of dollars on a battle with them...but being responsible and following the proper steps isn't getting us too far either...just another obstacle a small band has to deal with...it's a headache mate, that's why I hate it when people backlash at bands without knowing all the shit you have to go through being in one...

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

Why not settle it with a tug of war, or an armwrestling match between singers?

[sonickteam2]

i dont understand how you could sue Sonar.  and why bother them with this type of thing.  it seems like it really should be between Cartel and Cartel. especially since Sonar booked Acceptance and Cartel kinda just came along with them.
 
  any word back from Sonar? i know their managment and they are not ones to back down/give in to a letter like that and doubt they are scared of a lawsuit.