Russell Simmons Suing Bootleg Company, ‘Phag Farm’
I honestly, just heard about this story over the weekend from friends. Apparently, there’s a Florida-based T-shirt company that uses the moniker, “Phag Farm.” Phag Farm, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 in the State of FL and is currently active. But does the name sound familiar? Well, it’s obviously close to the name of Russell Simmons’ Phat Farm Clothing company.
Last week, Simmons’ former company filed a $7 million lawsuit against the company and this isn’t the first time. In 2008, Lisa Wright, who is the “Phag Farm” maker, was unable to trademark the name after she received a cease-and-desisted from Phat Fashions, Phat Farm’s parent company. The suit alleged that “Phag Farm” was (or is) compromising the brand by advertising the company as being “hot and gay.” Russell Simmons founded Phat Farm in 1992, sold it and cashed out in 2004 to Kellwood for $142 million dollars in cash. ((Hustle Harder))