BONEY M IN AUSTRALIAN NAME DISPUTE
 
Legendary 70s pop band Boney M are involved in a legal dispute in Australia over the unauthorised use of their name.
 
Having released hits such as “Rivers of Babylon”, “Ma Baker”, “Rasputin”,  and “Sunny”, Boney M are internationally recognised as one of the iconic acts of the Disco music era.
 
The band, however, is currently in a legal stoush in Australia with a former dancer with the band over the use of the name.  Sheyla Bonnick, of Neasden, England, has scheduled a series of performances in small venues throughout Australia, capitalising upon the goodwill in the Boney M name.
 
“The concern amongst the band is that the audience will be disappointed once they discover that it isn’t actually us playing in the performances, but instead is an unauthorised imitator,” said Maizie Williams, a founding member of Boney M.
 
The name “BONEY M” is a registered trade mark in Australia and many overseas countries. In an effort to stop the unauthorised use of the name, the band’s Australian lawyers have sent cease and desist letters to venues across the country.
 
Boney M tours to capacity crowds in many countries. “Most of these venues are very small. Boney M plays in large venues,” says Donovan Nelson, Boney M’s agent in the United Kingdom. “The performance by a band purporting to be Boney M in such small venues sends the wrong message about the band’s popularity and ability to draw an audience.”  
 
Some of the venues have reconsidered hosting Ms Bonnick’s performances. In a letter to Boney M’s Australian lawyers, Andrew Anderson, General Manager of Burswood RSL Club in New South Wales, wrote, “The Club was totally unaware of any issues in regard to the intellectual property [around the name “Boney M”]” and has cancelled Ms Bonnick’s show.
 
“The name “Boney M” is valuable intellectual property and cannot be used without permission,” said Mr Nelson. “We are worried about the risk of confusion and simply can’t allow unauthorised performers to diminish the value of the name.”
 
For further information contact:
 
(in Australia)
David Stewart
Managing Director
Wrays Lawyers
Telephone: 08 92165180