#513142 - 03/25/02 08:44 PM
Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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LiveMusic
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This hasn't been polished AT ALL. (EDIT: But if you want to comment good or bad, fire away.) I just now whipped this out in literally 20 minutes. (And another one in the 20 minutes before that... man, I got on a roll.) So this probably sucks. But for context purposes, here it is. But first, the question -- can I use the name "Walmart" in a lyric or a song title?
EDIT: I spent a little time polishing this. Here is the latest.
"Walmart Loves Me"
Copyright 2002 Duke Will
A pretty sight, Old Glory unfurled
It beckons you in to Wally World
Each time I arrive I feel like salutin'
They sell USA, you're darn sure tootin'
They got you covered, A's through Z's
They're even sellin' real fake trees
Don't need mom and pop, no high-price mall
It's all in one place, our Taj Mahal
Chorus:
Walmart loves me, this I know
They'll take it back; can't wait to go
I got my receipt, no need to whine
Just wait my turn in the refund line
It's good for the town, this gentle giant
Hard to believe we fought them defiant
The kiddies, they love it, a Happy Meal fix
And Seniors do, too; they hang out for kicks
That old man up front, that greeter clown
My favorite guy in this old town
Someday he'll pass and I'll interview
My dream job's his in that vital venue
Chorus:
Walmart loves me, this I know
They'll take it back; can't wait to go
I got my receipt, no need to whine
Just wait my turn in the refund line
Tag:
Walmart loves me, this I know
They'll take it back; can't wait to go
Can't wait to go
Can't wait to go
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#513143 - 03/25/02 09:39 PM
Re: Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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Anifa
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Sheryl Crow used the word Walmart in a song
....with a gun they bought at Walmart discount stores
Walmart did not press any suites, however, displayed in a bad light they refused to carry Sheryl Crow's CD on their shelves.
Your song would be free advertisement for them and they would probably support the concept of encouraging new customers. To be on the safe side, you may wish to contact Walmart Corporation and for their permissions provided to you in writing. In doing this, they may be the first to open a sales outlet for the project. 
Here is the contact information to their home office.
Call Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., at 1-800-WALMART (1-800-925-6278), from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (CT) Monday - Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (CT) Saturday or from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (CT) Sunday.
To reach the home office, call 479-273-4000.
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#513144 - 03/25/02 10:26 PM
Re: Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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LiveMusic
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Originally posted by anifa:
...Your song would be free advertisement for them and they would probably support the concept of encouraging new customers...
And, hey, a DOUBLE meaning! Cuz that song was written as a satire... a tongue-in-cheek slam against the corporate destroyer of small town retail.
I might even add to that song. There's lots of stuff I could add that are spoofs of small townfolks habits regarding their Wally World. Only problem is, I tend to write too much. I'm always having to whack stuff out.
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#513145 - 03/26/02 12:17 AM
Re: Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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Anifa
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 Okay, now that you mention the intent, after re-reading the lyrics thoroughly I see your undertones. I scanned through it quickly analyzing it to be of a country nature (which I'm NOT into country) and at first glance one would think that it's a song written that takes a shot at the bored housewives that race out with their hubby's paycheck to break the bank before paying the bills. I picked up on a negative score, but not one that would have been demeaning to Walmart. Industrious???? I think that it would be best, when using names with a trademark, to secure all clearances prior to publishing or spending time in vain working on a project that might be an infringement of Intellectual Property Rights. I have an entire section inside of my website that supplies links to Copyright, Patent and Trademark organizations throughout the world. Drop by and browse through some of the resources provided. http://musicbizbuzz.net/copyrights.htm and http://www.musicbizbuzz.net/patents.htm
AniFa
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#513146 - 03/26/02 02:10 AM
Re: Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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LiveMusic
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I don't know if they'd approve it or not since it's actually derogatory. Heck, they might think it's great! They might think it's building them up. I was just wondering if a songwriter CAN include big names like that without permission.
The melody that I first started messing with is that for the children's song we used to sing "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." I might use that melody for the first two lines and go on from there. Oh heck, I hope that melody is public domain.
On the other hand, I have a standard blues thing I'm fooling around with.
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#513147 - 03/28/02 03:46 AM
Re: Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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Dan South
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Duke,
For my two cents, I would suggest that you NOT use Walfart in your song, for two reasons.
Reason 1: I once met a lawyer whose job was to sue people for using a backwards "R" like the one in "Toys R Us" (her client). I'm sure that the guys from Korn have heard from her. Walmart may not care today, but you never know when a corporation might start getting nasty.
Reason 2: What's Walmart going to mean to people in twenty years? You once posted a thread about "timeless" songs. Adding a brand name will probably work to make your song less "timeless," because no one knows what Walmart will be doing decades down the road.
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Thanks to all for sharing your wisdom, warmth, and humor. Our time together means a lot, and I should express that more often. I'm sorry that I never got a chance to say these words to DafDuc.
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#513148 - 03/28/02 04:02 AM
Re: Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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Anifa
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Originally posted by Dan South:
Duke,
For my two cents, I would suggest that you NOT use Walfart in your song, for two reasons.
Reason 1: I once met a lawyer whose job was to sue people for using a backwards "R" like the one in "Toys R Us" (her client). I'm sure that the guys from Korn have heard from her. Walmart may not care today, but you never know when a corporation might start getting nasty.
Reason 2: What's Walmart going to mean to people in twenty years? You once posted a thread about "timeless" songs. Adding a brand name will probably work to make your song less "timeless," because no one knows what Walmart will be doing decades down the road.
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#513149 - 03/28/02 04:06 AM
Re: Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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Dak Lander
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There are already lots of songs with the name Wal Mart it them. Heck, there are at least three of them HERE . Do what you think you want to do.
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#513150 - 03/28/02 03:21 PM
Re: Lyric - And... Can I use a trademarked name in a lyric or title?
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rog951
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Hell, just change it to "K-Mart." They can't afford to pay a lawyer to come after you right now...
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