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Battling party promoters headed to court The Bad Boy Club Montreal (BBCM), party promoters behind the Black & Blue Festival, have announced that they are taking rival promoters 514 to court over use of the trademarked name Black & Blue. BBCM director Robert Vézina charges that 514 broke copyright law when they called their party an "After-Black & Blue" over the Thanksgiving weekend. The 514 event, which was held at High Bar on St-Laurent, competed directly with the official Black & Blue day-after party. Vézina says the 514's use of the B & B name diluted the official party and consequently dipped into BBCM profits, which ultimately go to charity. "Any event that bears the Black & Blue name must have our approval," says Vézina. "It is a registered trademark." Last week the BBCM's lawyer, Bousquet Laplante, send a strongly worded letter to the partners of Productions 514 and the owners of High Bar, asking for $10,000 between them in compensation. If the promoters do not comply by this Friday (Oct. 23), Vézina says the BBCM will be forced to take further legal action. "This isn't something we really like doing," insists Vézina, "but this time we were pushed too far." Vézina estimates the BBCM lost approximately 500 customers to the competing Black & Blue event on Thanksgiving weekend. He stresses that revenue from the BBCM parties is donated to local gay and AIDS-related charities. Despite repeated phone calls, spokespersons for 514 Productions and High Bar could not be reached by press time. -Matthew Hays
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