Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are filing a lawsuit after alleging their trademark was infringed upon by the band “My Chemical Romance.”
The issue at the heart of the lawsuit is the show My Chemical Romance is putting on as part of their “Long Live: The Black Parade” tour. On October 23, the group performed a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which featured cheerleaders – designed and engineered to look exactly like the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.
The lawsuit claims that the cheerleaders’ costumes and designs were so similar to those of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders that an ordinary person could easily mistake their members for those who were on stage with the band. It went even further when the cheerleaders, armed with fake weapons on stage, participated in a mock fight, during which several of the cheerleaders were “shot.”
This is not a lawsuit for money, but rather simply to protect their brand. The cheerleaders are seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction, particularly regarding the costumes they wear. A statement released by Pro Silver Star, which manages the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, said they had no problem with My Chemical Romance and supported their freedom of speech.
“Silver Star requests only that these artists not wear the DCC uniform when doing so,” the filing states. “The universe of alternative costume designs is indeed limitless.”
The Cowboys cheerleaders are right. It is reasonable to assume, from the video above, that these are the real Cowboys cheerleaders, presumably working under a deal with the group. This is also a case where the group is not just cheering, but participating in theatrical elements that are beyond the scope of what cheerleaders would do.
This lawsuit comes shortly after the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders made waves by becoming the first group of NFL cheerleaders to unionize, which was recognized by the Cowboys. Organizing under the name “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association” (DCCA), the union will push for equal pay, equal rights and to protect the brand from infringement, as it believes has happened here. The decision to unionize was driven in part by the massive success of the cheerleaders in the Netflix series. America’s Sweethearts: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which led to some members of the group receiving massive pay raises, while others did not.
As for the lawsuit, it appears the cheerleaders are making fair demands. They’re not asking My Chemical Romance to change the artistic side of their show or make any significant changes – just use literally any other cheerleader design on the face of the earth. This way, Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders will not be misidentified.
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