The Recording Academy, owner of the Grammy Awards, filed suit yesterday in California District Court against Power Music over the company’s sales of karaoke-worthy, aerobics-ready Grammy Tribute workout albums — like the one below — that the Academy thinks infringe upon its long-established trademark and too closely resemble its own annual, pre-Grammy Awards compilation.
Power Music sells compilations of popular songs covered by unknown musicians with reed-thin production and dance music roots (you can hear a sample here). The company also sells similar compilations around Coachella, as well as a series of (baffling) fight-themed records like LMFAO vs Pitbull vs David Guetta.
The Academy has accused Power Music of two counts of trademark infringement and dilution, unfair competition, two counts of false advertising and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The Academy is seeking legal costs, damages, profits and interest, as well as an immediate end to its sales of any albums that mention the Grammy brand.
Power Music did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
