A legal battle has erupted between Joey Ramone's brother and Johnny Ramone's widow over the band's trademarks and intellectual property rights.

Photo Credit: The Ramones by Danny Fields, 1977

Mitchel Hyman (Mickey Leigh), Joey Ramone's brother, has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against Linda Cummings-Ramone, Johnny Ramone's widow, alleging improper use of the band's legacy and trademarks.

The lawsuit claims that Cummings-Ramone has exceeded previously established legal limits on using the Ramone name, presenting herself as the band's official spokesperson and "keeper of the legacy" without proper authority.

Key points of contention:

• Cummings-Ramone's adoption of the "Linda Ramone" name, which Leigh claims she only began using after her husband's death
• Her alleged unauthorized representation as the band's spokesperson
• Disputes over control of the band's legacy and business decisions

This latest legal action follows a previous dispute from January, when Cummings-Ramone filed her own lawsuit regarding Netflix's planned biopic based on Mickey Leigh's memoir, "I Slept With Joey Ramone," starring Pete Davidson.

The case highlights the complex nature of managing band legacies when original members have passed away. The Ramones' situation is particularly unique as none of the original members were actually related, despite sharing the "Ramone" surname as part of their stage personas.

The ongoing legal battle continues to underscore the challenges of preserving and managing the legacy of one of punk rock's most influential bands.

Related Articles

Previous Articles