Rapper B. Rich makes a music video Out For A Sip demanding Coca Cola cease and desist using his trademarked catchphrase.
After finding out his trademarked catchphrase “Out For A Rip” had been used on a Coca-Cola bottle, Kingston rapper B. Rich took to YouTube to issue a cease and desist letter.
In 2013, Brendon Richmond who performs under the name B. Rich, published the video Out For A Rip on YouTube garnering more than 12 million views.
B. Rich told MIX 97’s Justin and Dani on Wednesday evening that he was surprised to find a Coke bottle with the phrase “Out for a Rip” printed on it in a Toronto grocery store in May.
“The bottle, you can scan it with your phone and you get the Coke playlist and for some reason it doesn’t have the Out For A Rip song on it (playlist),” B. Rich said.
B. Rich explained he is not taking ownership of the phrase overall but filed for the trademark in 2014 for specific use as it applies to his musical work and merchandise.
He said he decided to respond to the soft drink giant with the music video, Out For A Sip, in which B. Rich demands Coke stop using his catchphrase.
Dear @CocaCola (Canada), please see the attached legal demand sent on behalf of my client, B. Rich (@b_and_steve) – https://t.co/prbyA3vdnM
— Rob Kittredge (@RobKittredge) July 11, 2017
In the video, B. Rich asks for a truckload of coke, Toronto Maple Leafs and Blue Jays tickets, a new paint job for his truck and a plane ticket to visit his cousin in Saskatchewan.
He admitted those items aren’t necessarily in the filed legal documents, just ‘merely a suggestion.’
Richmond’s counsel, Toronto-based intellectual property lawyer Rob Kittredge told CBC News in an interview that he expects the dispute to be resolved in a friendly way, without a need for trial, though he hasn’t heard back from Coca-Cola. In the report a rep from Coca Cola said they are aware of the video and are reviewing it.
Listen to the full interview with Justin and Dani by clicking here.
