Volcom is suing Jay-Z and his music distribution label Roc Nation in a California Central District court for trademark infringement. The surf-inspired clothing brand claims the Roc Nation diamond logo, which began appearing in 2009, is too similar to its Volcom Stone diamond logo, which it's had since 1991—a logo it claims to have pushed by spending more than $100 million on marketing. Despite Volcom's repeated cease-and-desist requests directed to the hip-hop mogul and his company, the dual-diamond logos remain, according to Volcom. In 2005, Jay-Z was sued over his use of the diamond hand signal, which former pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page claimed to have trademarked in the '90s (yes, apparently hand signals can be trademarked). Jay-Z settled out of court. The Volcom lawsuit does not specify damages, but it does request that all Roc Nation products using the logo be destroyed and the company stop using the logo. From an April 5 Heard Mentality blog post by Chasen Marshall.
LOCAL RECORD STORE DAY EVENTS
The fandemonium over Record Store Day has only grown since it began in 2007. Drak, owner of Vinyl Solution in Huntington Beach, expressed his awe of the fans who flooded into his store last year “like mice after a piece of cheese. It's amazing.” Here's a sliver of what participating Orange County and Long Beach record stores will be doing to celebrate on Saturday.
Burger Records: Bad Antics are performing an in-store show; records and cassettes will be given away. 645 S. State College Blvd., Fullerton; burgerrecords.webs.com.
Durty Mick Records: The Torrance-based record label will be celebrating its first Record Store Day at its brand-new Long Beach store. For starters, The Street Dogs' Tobe Bean will be doing a DJ set, spinning punk tunes from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 403 E. Third St., Long Beach; www.durtymickrecords.com.
Fingerprints Records: The day begins at 6 a.m. The band Fucked Up will act as clerks from 1 to 3 p.m., while OFF!, fronted by Keith Morris of The Circle Jerks, will play live during that same two-hour stretch. Foo Fighters will play a sold-out set for those who pre-purchased their Record Store Day exclusive 7-inch Medium Rare collection of covers. Wristbands given out with the presale are required to attend. Brett Dennen will perform at 7 p.m. 420 E. Fourth St., Long Beach; www.fingerprintsmusic.com.
TKO Records: On Friday, it's The Meatmen and a free pizza party. The Detroit hardcore band will be signing, and singer Tesco Vee will read from his new book. 18948 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley; www.tkorecords.com.
Vinyl Solution: Free Gestapo Khazi and Jail Weddings show in the evening! 18822 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach; www.myspace.com/vinylsolution.
From an April 14 post by Taylor Hamby.
This story first appeared in print as “Volcom Sues Jay-Z.”
