Eminem – Judge Says Rapper Must Appear In Court For Trademark Dispute Against RHOP’s Gizelle Bryant & Robyn Dixon

Eminem, Gizelle Bryant, Robyn Dixon

Eminem – Judge Says Rapper Must Appear In Court For Trademark Dispute Against RHOP’s Gizelle Bryant & Robyn Dixon

Despite his opposition, rap star Eminem will have to attend court sessions for his trademark lawsuit against Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon.

According to Radar Online, a court judge recently rejected the musician’s request for a protection order against the reality stars, which would have allowed him to personally miss the trial.

As we’ve been covering, Eminem is currently attempting to stop Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon from trademarking their podcast name, Reasonably Shady. He argues that consumers will associate the show to his monicker Slim Shady, which he says he’s had trademarked since the 90’s. After Eminem took legal action against the trademark request, the “Real Housewives of Potomac” cast members motioned to have the hip-hop vet, real name Marshall Mathers, sit for a deposition so he can be grilled about his use of the name in question.

Eminem fought the deposition motion and filed for a protective order so that he would not have to show up in person for the case. He argued that he has “limited knowledge” about the legalities of the trademark and that having to appear in court would be “burdensome” as he currently has projects that need his immediate attention. The rapper urged the court to allow his lawyer, Paul Rosenberg, to fill in for him instead. However, it seems the court didn’t find that his argument was substantial enough.

In the ruling denying Eminem’s request for a protective order, a court judge wrote:

“Upon a careful review of the record and considering all the relevant facts, the Board finds that [Eminem] has not demonstrated good cause exists for a protective order prohibiting [Robyn and Gizelle] from deposing him.”

Eminem

And continued:

“While it may be true that Mr. Rosenberg has more knowledge of facts relevant to the claims herein, Mr. Rosenberg is a third-party to this proceeding. [Eminem] does not assert that [he] lacks any personal knowledge relevant to the claims hereinor that his deposition would not lead to the discovery of admissible evidence…the fact that [Eminem’s] deposition testimony may overlap with that of Mr. Rosenberg (or any other third-party witness) insufficient to preclude Mathers’ deposition, particularly considering he is the only party witness for Opposer.”

Robyn Dixon, Gizelle Bryant

Additionally, the court ruled that Eminem did not present any evidence that supported his claims of essentially being too busy to sit for the hearings. They added in the legal document:

“[Eminem] fails to provide any detail regarding the asserted projects, their nature, duration or manner in which they render his appearance at a deposition unduly burdensome. If, as [Eminem] contends, he has little knowledge relevant to the issues in the case, the deposition should be relatively short.”

It has not been reported that a deposition date has been set at this time.

Are you surprised Eminem’s protective order request wasn’t granted? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!