EXPERIENCE HENDRIX Still Exclusive Owner Of JIMI HENDRIX Trademarks

Experience Hendrix, LLC, the Hendrix family music company which owns and administers the Jimi Hendrix music rights, has issued the following press release:

Since 1995, James "Al" Hendrix, the sole heir of Jimi Hendrix, and his close family members and their companies have been committed to preserving Jimi Hendrix's musical, cultural and artistic legacy. Experience Hendrix and its subsidiary Authentic Hendrix have continuously used registered trademarks of Jimi Hendrix's name, his image, his signature and other logos in careful marketing of Jimi's music, recordings, artistic properties and related merchandise throughout the world and will defend those trademarks against all infringers.

Earlier this year, Experience Hendrix, LLC filed a lawsuit against Craig Dieffenbach and his companies to enforce these very trademark rights. Experience Hendrix has sued Dieffenbach for trademark infringement and requested the Court to order that he cease using their trademarks in his tasteless campaign to sell vodka and other merchandise. That case is still pending.

Last week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to accept Experience Hendrix's 2003 claim that the James Marshall Hendrix Foundation promotion of an event had violated the 1998 Washington Personality Rights Act. That Court did not consider or rule on the Experience Hendrix registered trademarks nor will their decision have any affect on Experience Hendrix's exclusive ownership of the trademarks it has used over the years and will continue to use in maintaining and promoting Jimi's legacy.

Noting that the Hendrix family company trademarks continue to be fully protected by federal law, Bob Hendrix, Vice President of Experience Hendrix, observed: "Al Hendrix and other Hendrix family managers he appointed over the years have worked hard to preserve and protect the legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Since Al's death in 2002, we have done our utmost to continue on the path he envisioned. There is no question that Al would be saddened by these infringements. Our trademarks are protected by federal law. The unauthorized use of those marks by this vodka enterprise underscores the reason why Al didn't want Leon Hendrix and his associates involved in the Hendrix family companies."