Johnny Marr’s management has addressed recent inaccuracies regarding the trademark of The Smiths’ name, as mentioned by Morrissey on his website, but he also told the truth about The Cure in the past.
In 2018, Johnny Marr discovered that the trademark for The Smiths’ name was not owned by the band, which led him to take action to protect it after a third party attempted to use the name. Marr initially reached out to Morrissey through his representatives to collaborate on securing the trademark, but received no response. So, Marr registered the trademark himself.
Then, an agreement was reached with Morrissey’s lawyers to hold the trademark for the mutual benefit of both Morrissey and Marr. In January 2024, Marr signed an assignment for joint ownership of the trademark to Morrissey. However, this document still requires Morrissey’s signature to be fully executed.
Regarding recent reports, Marr has stated that he did not ignore an offer to tour as The Smiths but simply declined it. He gave emphasis to the fact that the decision to protect the band’s name was made to prevent third parties from exploiting it, and that this action was done on behalf of both himself and his former bandmates.
On top of that, any rumors about Johnny Marr touring with a different singer as The Smiths are false, as there are no such plans. Marr also confirmed that he turned down a proposal for another greatest hits compilation from Warner Music Group due to the number of existing compilations.
A statement from Johnny Marr’s management:
Recent statements made by Morrissey on his website regarding the trademark of The Smiths’ name are incorrect.
Here are the facts:
In 2018, following an attempt by a third party to use The Smiths’ name – and upon discovery that the trademark was not owned by the band – Marr reached out to Morrissey, via his representatives, to work together in protecting The Smiths’ name.
A failure to respond led Marr to register the trademark himself.
It was subsequently agreed with Morrissey’s lawyers that this trademark was held for the mutual benefit of Morrissey & Marr.
As a gesture of goodwill, in January 2024, Marr signed an assignment of joint ownership to Morrissey. Execution of this document still requires Morrissey to sign.
In the interests of accuracy and clarity regarding the trademark, and to answer recent reports that Marr ignored a promoter’s offer to tour as The Smiths, Marr says:
“To prevent third parties from profiting from the band’s name, it was left to me to protect the legacy. This I have done on behalf of both myself and my former bandmates.”
“As for the offer to tour, I didn’t ignore the offer – I said no.”
Additionally, speculation about Johnny Marr touring with a different singer as The Smiths is not true. There are no such plans.
Johnny Marr also confirms that he declined a suggestion for another greatest hits compilation from Warner Music Group given the number already in existence.
https://x.com/johnny_marr/status/1836103851666993170?s=46&t=MeYLTapzMduvkZEdyyUDmA
