Ringling Bros. Sues Kid Rock Over 'Greatest Show' Moniker

TAMPA, FL – Ringling Bro. and Barnum & Bailey Circus wants to make one thing clear: The circus with its family friendly trapeze acts and clowns is "The Greatest Show On Earth." The old-fashioned traditional circus is taking another circus, with pop star Kid Rock as the ring master surrounded by scantily-dressed women, to court.

Ringling Bros. has sued Kid Rock, over the use of its trademarked slogan, "The Greatest Show On Earth." Ringling Bros. filed the trademark infringement lawsuit on Friday, Dec. 22, in U.S. District Court's Middle District of Florida in Tampa. Ticket distributor Live Nation is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit notes that Kid Rock, who comes from Detroit but has a home in Jupiter, Florida, has plans for a U.S. tour this summer that will visit many of the same venues that the Ringling Bros. circus visits. Kid Rock has dubbed the tour, "The Greatest Show On Earth 2018." Advertising and promotional material for Kid Rock's tour include the slogan, as do even the ticket stubs, the lawsuit notes.

The circus, meanwhile, is very protective of who gets to use the slogan. In this case, lawyers for Ringling Bros. have sent letters, ordering the pop star to quit using the slogan.

"Ringling Bros. chooses carefully to whom it grants these joint promotions, based on the image of the joint promoter," the lawsuit notes. "Ringling Bros. has a practice of not conducting joint promotions or entering into licensing agreements with companies or individuals who are involved in or promote violence, alcohol, illegal activities, sex or cigarettes."

The lawsuit calls Kid Rock's performances, "antithetical to the family friendly reputation of the circus." It cites one recent performance where Kid Rock repeatedly used vulgar language during his songs and while addressing the audience. He also had female dancers with bikini tops, short skirts and "readily visible undergarments."

In response to notices sent by Ringling Bros.'s lawyers, Kid Rock's lawyers argue that the circus' claims are misplaced and the trademark consists of "common words."

Ringling Bros. trademarked the slogan in October 1985, which has been used to promote the circus in advertising on TV, print and online, as well as in a movie and promotional material, according to the lawsuit. Ringling Bros. also licenses the slogan to be used on merchandise, and collects a fee for its use.

Retailers such as Chick-fil-A and MetroPCS, and nonprofit Easterseals pay a fee to associate their brands with the circus, the lawsuit says.

The circus has spent in excess of $65 million on advertising and promotion for trademarked slogan. And, although it last performed as a circus in May 2016, it still owns the active trademark, the circus said in the lawsuit.

Photo: Kid Rock performs at the DTE Music Center on Aug. 14, 2015, in Detroit. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)