Tobacco Documents Online

Page 1 Note for Dennis, Darienne From: Dennis, Darienne Date: Thu, Nov 4, 1993 12:42 PM Subject: "MARLEY' TRADEMARK: Media To: Fuller, Craig; Han, Vic; Holt, Barry Cc: Collamore, Thomas; Daragan, Karen; Parrish, Steve; Rolli, Nicholas Greetings. In the last 18 hours, PMI and PMCInc communications have received a few media inquiries about PM registering the trademark "Marley" in France. There is interest in this because Bob Marley Music Inc. has made claims in the press that PM is denigrating the name of the late Bob Marley, a Jamaican reggae musician. Coinciding with this is the fact that the issue of legalizing marijuana has once again come to the fore in Europe. (Mr. Marley, who died in the early 1980s of a brain tumor, was a Rastafarian; the sect utilizes marijuana in its sacrements, I believe.) The media calls have come from: DAILY MAIL (UK), SUNDAY EXPRESS (UK), and NEW YORK NEWSDAY (a short item did appear in today's "Inside New York" column in this paper.) In addition, PM offices in France and Brussels have received calls on this subject. PM's statement (drafted by PMI, in conjunction with PM Trademarks): * PM has registered the trademark "Marley" in France. This in no way reflects Philip Morris's intention to use the mark with Bob Marley in mind. The name "Marley" can have a wide variety of associations. We do not feel that Bob Marley Music Inc.'s exclusive claim of the name "Marley" across varied product lines is a valid one. It is our opinion that French lawas would not support the claims by Bob Marly Music Inc. * (in response to why did we chose this name) For competitive reasons, we do not disclose our marketing plans. This includes reasons for trademark applications. *(in response is PM preparing for legalized marijuana cigarette sales) ABSOLUTELY NOT! In addition, questions from the reporters have touched on the following: + is Lady Thatcher a consultant to PM? (yes) + are we using Marley because Bob Marley has a large following in LDC countries, and since cigarette consumption in the West is declining, we will be marketing our products there? (No; over 90% of PM tobacco products are sold in the developed OECD nations; less than 1% of sales come from so-called 'less developed countries.') I am checking with PM Trademark department to see if any further action on the Companies' part is warranted. I will keep you posted. Cheers. .cc (hard copy) E. Cho, W.Burrell, C.Wall