STRANGE BUT TRUE, ANOTHER LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED IN LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT AGAINST ROBBY and RAY, and IAN ASTBURY.    Following is a compilation of recent media stories about this latest flurry of litigation.   This case can be followed by checking in at http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/civilCaseSummary/  and inserting Case #BC294495

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These Doors Need Hinges       from Arrow 93FM "Grapevine"

(04/25/03) -- Original members of the Doors Robbie Krieger and Ray Manzarek have been sued again by those that resent the fact they're using the name of the band to promote their new project, called The Doors 21st Century. The 11-count trademark-infringement lawsuit was filed by the estates of late Doors vocalist Jim Morrison and his wife, Pam Courson. The suit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that a new touring incarnation of the Doors -- including keyboardist Manzarek, guitarist Krieger, and vocalist Ian Astbury (of The Cult) -- has "wrongfully misappropriated" the band's name and logo, including reciting Morrison's poetry during some performances. The suit, which ultimately seeks monetary damages (unspecified at this point), claims that the defendants are in "a deliberate scheme" to get rich and "confuse the public." This is the third lawsuit the band has been slapped with in the past year. Past complaints include one by former drummer John Densmore; a lawsuit from Stewart Copeland, claiming breach of oral contract. Seems as if all the money they're making from touring should just about cover these various settlements, so... what's the point of this so-called reunion, again?

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Jim Morrison's Parents Sue Over New Doors Band
Fri April 25, 2003 08:56 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The parents of late rock star Jim Morrison have sued the remaining members of the Doors, claiming that by re-forming the band with another singer they have "maliciously misappropriated" the name.

George and Clara Morrison claim breach of contract, unfair competition and trademark infringement in a Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages and to put a stop to the new incarnation of the band.

Also suing are the parents of Morrison's late girlfriend, Pamela Courson, who, according to the lawsuit, own half of the rock icon's share in the Doors.

Named in the lawsuit are Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and Ian Astbury, former lead singer of the British hard-rock band the Cult, who was hired to replace Morrison.

"Over the past 37 years the legendary rock band the Doors ... has become one of the most distinctive names in contemporary music," the lawsuit says.

"Defendants have knowingly, intentionally and maliciously misappropriated and infringed upon the valuable name and logo of the Doors ... by stealing these valuable property rights and employing them for the purpose of naming, promoting and marketing a new band," the lawsuit filed on Wednesday said.

Morrison died in Paris of an apparent heart attack in July, 1971 at the age of 27.

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Yahoo! News   Tue, Apr 29, 2003
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Jim Morrison's Parents Suing New Doors
Mon Apr 28, 8:06 AM ET
 

NEW YORK - The new incarnation of The Doors is facing yet another lawsuit — from Jim Morrison (news)'s parents. George and Clara Morrison have filed suit against guitarist Robby Krieger (news) and keyboardist Ray Manzarek (news) over The Doors 21st Century, the version of the band that has Ian Astbury on vocals.

   

According to The Smoking Gun Web site, the Morrisons' suit claims the new Doors "maliciously misappropriated" the name and logo of The Doors and used Morrison's poetry and photos without permission. The suit also claims the new band plans to "wrongfully enrich themselves" through touring. The parents of Pamela Courson, Morrison's common-law wife, have also joined the suit, because the Morrisons and the Coursons share a 25 percent ownership stake in The Doors. They don't specify damages but they want Krieger and Manzarek to "disgorge" profits received from the new band.

There has been no comment from Krieger or Manzarek. The two are already facing legal issues involving former bandmate John Densmore (news), who's not in the current version of the band. Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland (news) is also suing, claiming he was wrongfully dismissed from the reformed Doors.

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Yahoo! News   Tue, Apr 29, 2003
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Morrison Estate Sues Surviving Doors
Fri Apr 25, 2:00 PM ET
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By Josh Grossberg

The 21st Century Doors have lit a fire under the estate of the late Jim Morrison.

News: Drummer unhinged over Doors reunion
News: The Doors open up the vaults
News: Morrison lives on--on new Doors track


 

Photo
E! Online Photo


 

 

Seeing red are George and Clara Morrison, the octogenarian parents of the group's legendary frontman, who filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against surviving members Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger on Wednesday. They claim the rockers swiped their son's poetry and image and used them in a revamped version of the Doors currently touring the U.S., featuring the Cult's former frontman, Ian Astbury, as a fill-in for Morrison.

The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, also names Astbury as a defendant.

According to court documents published on the Smoking Gun Website, it claims the threesome "maliciously misappropriated" the name and logo of the original lineup, as well as signature parts of Morrison's stage act which included reciting poetry during performances.

The new incarnation of the Doors has apparently found more acceptance on the concert circuit, selling out mid-range venues such as New York's Roseland Ballroom (estimated capacity of 3,000) at $70 a pop.

The suit does not ask for specific monetary damages but seeks to "disgorge all profits which they have improperly received" since the trio decided to refurbish the Doors and launch a "national and international tour in order to wrongfully enrich themselves."

The family filed the suit in conjunction with the parents of Pamela Courson, Morrison's late common-law wife, since both the Morrisons and the Coursons share a 25 percent ownership stake in the Doors partnership. Manzarek and Krieger and ex-Doors drummer John Densmore each own a quarter as well.

Court papers indicate the defendants referred to the new formation in advertising, interviews, personal appearances and other promotional outlets as "The 21st Century Doors," or variations thereof, in breach of their agreement with Morrison's estate.

As such, Manzarek and Krieger's trek with Astbury has yet to be listed under the news section of the Doors official Website (www.thedoors.com), a site jointly developed by all four controlling parties.

In fact, Densmore wasn't exactly thrilled about the ex-Cult leader slipping into the Lizard King's leather pants either. The new group, with the addition of former Police drummer Stewart Copeland behind the tom-toms for a few shows, unhinged the original drummer so much that he decided to sue his former bandmates in February, seeking to block them from using the Doors name and logo.

Densmore's suit accused Manzarek, 63, and Krieger, 57, of misleading fans with their attempt to resurrect the classic Morrison-era tunes such as "Riders on the Storm," "When the Music's Over" and "L.A. Woman," created during the band's heyday in the late '60s and early '70s.

Copeland wasn't a fan for long either. He later filed his own lawsuit against Manzarek and Krieger, alleging they breached an oral contract when they unceremoniously dropped from him the tour.

While Morrison, of course, died of a heart attack in 1971 in his bathtub in a Paris hotel, his legend has lived on. Since his death, the Doors have sold a whopping 49 million albums to date. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder channeling Morrison on lead vocals. The surviving members have since released a Doors box set and recordings of rare live shows and organized a Morrison tribute concert in 2000.

The next Doors gig is scheduled for Boston on Friday night.

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from www.thesmokinggun.com    dated April 24, 2003

 APRIL 24--The parents of Jim Morrison yesterday sued two of their son's former Doors bandmates, claiming that the musicians, now touring in a reformed version of the famous group, have "maliciously misappropriated" the name and logo of The Doors and are using Morrison's poetry and photos without permission. In a Los Angeles Superior Court complaint, octogenarians George and Clara Morrison allege that Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger have stolen "these valuable property rights" in a bid to promote and market "a new band that they recently organized with two other individuals that have never been associated with the original Doors band" and which plans on launching "a national and international tour in order to wrongfully enrich themselves." Along with Manzarek and Krieger, the Morrisons have named as a defendant Ian Astbury, The Cult's former lead singer and the man now trying to fill Morrison's leather pants. The lawsuit, a key excerpt from which is below, does not specify damages, but demands that the defendants "disgorge all profits which they have improperly received" from the band's resuscitation. The complaint also seems to take a swipe at the new band's musicianship, noting that the group has "attempted to play songs written and made popular by the original Doors band in a manner which attempts to copy the original distinctive sound of The Doors." The reformed Doors tour has apparently been successful, with the group playing a sold-out show ($70 per ticket) tonight at New York City's Roseland Ballroom (capacity of about 3000). Joining the Morrisons as plaintiffs in the L.A. lawsuit are Columbus and Pearl Courson, the parents of Pamela Courson, Jim Morrison's late common-law wife. The Morrisons and Coursons share a 25 percent ownership stake in the corporations formed to administer the Doors partnerships. The other 25 percent partners are Manzarek, Krieger, and former Doors drummer John Densmore. 

 5 pages from the suit can be read here:    http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/doorssuit1.html

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Jim Morrison's Family Sues, Says New Doors Aren't The Doors
 
Group is accused of 'maliciously misappropriating' band's name, logo.

by Abbey Goodman
 

 

The Doors' Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore (Photo: Elektra)

The family of late Doors frontman Jim Morrison is accusing his former bandmates Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of tarnishing the reputation of the seminal group by continuing to make new music and tour under the Doors moniker.

A Los Angeles
 
Click here to find out more!

Superior Court complaint filed by George and Clara Morrison as well as the parents of Pamela Courson, Jim Morrison's late common-law wife, and published on the Smoking Gun Web site alleges that Manzarek and Krieger have "maliciously misappropriated" the Doors' name and logo in addition to using Morrison's poetry and photos without permission.

Further, the suit states that Manzarek and Krieger have stolen "valuable property rights" to publicize the new band, which includes new members — such as ex-Cult singer Ian Astbury (also named as a defendant) — who were never associated with the original incarnation of the group. The plaintiffs allege that the new lineup will use these rights to launch "a national and international tour in order to wrongfully enrich themselves."

While no damages are specified in the lawsuit, the Morrisons and Coursons demand that the defendants "disgorge all profits which they have improperly received."


This report is provided by MTV News
 

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from CNN Entertainment:  http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/25/music.doors.reut/index.html

Morrison kin sue new Doors

Friday, April 25, 2003 Posted: 12:40 PM EDT (1640 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (Billboard) -- The estates of late Doors vocalist Jim Morrison and his wife, Pam Courson, have filed an 11-count trademark-infringement lawsuit against original band members Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger, among others, Billboard Bulletin reports.

The suit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that a new touring incarnation of the Doors -- which includes keyboardist Manzarek, guitarist Krieger, and vocalist Ian Astbury (formerly of the Cult) -- has "wrongfully misappropriated" the band's name and logo, including reciting Morrison's poetry during performances.

The suit, which seeks unspecified monetary damages, claims that the defendants are in "a deliberate scheme" to enrich themselves and "confuse the public."

The complaint mirrors a suit filed earlier this year by John Densmore, former drummer and co-founder of the Doors. The group is also facing a lawsuit from former Police drummer Stewart Copeland, alleging breach of oral contract.

At deadline, representatives for Manzarek and Krieger were unavailable for comment.

As part of a short tour, the Doors play Boston, Massachusetts, Friday night.

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