Naked Cowboy
Encyclopedia
Robert John Burck better known as the Naked Cowboy, is an American street performer whose pitch is on New York City
's Times Square
. He wears only cowboy boots, a hat, and briefs
, with a guitar strategically placed to give the illusion of nudity.
On October 6, 2010, Burck formally announced that he is running for President of the United States
in the 2012 U.S. election
as a candidate representing the U.S. Tea Party movement
.
. He attended Our Lady of the Rosary elementary school in Greenhills, Ohio
, and later earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati
. He began busking
in December 1997 and first appeared on Venice Beach, Los Angeles
. The public immediately gave him much more money after a friend suggested to him that he dress only in his underwear in order to generate higher earnings.
Though he is currently most famous as a fixture of New York City's Times Square where tour guides on passing buses point him out. "I wanted to be the most famous mother f***erever to live the face of the earth and that's what I am." Burck is also a regular in the streets of the French Quarter
during the New Orleans Mardi Gras
season. "I had a little old lady in New Orleans Mardi Gras grab my balls and said, 'Just want to see what you got there, Buster!' Only lady that's ever done it. She was about 105. Awesome."He also makes appearances in his hometown of Cincinnati, at the Memorial Day weekend Taste of Cincinnati festival and the Riverfest
Labor Day
Festival. He has also made an appearance in Austin, Texas, during the South by Southwest Music Conference
, He has also made an appearance in Nashville, Tennessee
in June, 2008 on Broadway for the CMA Music Festival
and he also made an appearance on January 25, 2009 he performed at a Leinster Rugby
game in Donnybrook, Dublin
, Ireland
, singing his theme song "I'm the Naked Cowboy" before 18,000 spectators.
In a 2005 online interview, Burck cited Nancy Reagan
and Garth Brooks
as two of his leading inspirations. Additionally, on December 10, 2008 he was officially registered as a marriage officiant by the City of New York.
His first job was "Theft. 15-16 years old, you know, being a little punk."
His favorite Vacation spot: "considers the entire world his playground."
His goal is to, "dominate the commercial landscape of the entire world. Also to raise the physical, financial, and social, you know, basically the success standards for mankind."
during its first season
, but he was not admitted to the next round. He also tried out for Australian Idol
and Star Search
, but with the same results. In 2000, he was also on the short-lived show Moral Court
, where conservative talk show host Larry Elder
ruled that, in his opinion, Burck's Naked Cowboy persona was not immoral and not a danger to public safety. Burck replied, "Actually, I think I am an inspiration to public safety." On January 24, 2009, Burck also appeared on the Tubridy Tonight
show on Ireland's RTÉ
television network, performing his theme song accompanied by the Camembert Quartet.
"I've got like six books that I've written to date." His newest book is titled Determination- The Legend of the Naked Cowboy.
Burck has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns. As of 2006, he is part of USA Network
's "Characters Welcome" campaign, and he also had a cameo appearance in a Chevrolet
commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLI
, as well as a Guinness
advertisement that aired only in the United Kingdom and Ireland. On August 28, 2008, Burke entered into an endorsement/licensing agreement with Divinely Naked LLC to endorse and create Naked Cowboy Nutritional Products. He has provided license to Blue Island Shellfish Farms to use the name and brand for Naked Cowboy Oysters, which are now the number one selling oysters in Manhattan.
Burck has also made appearances in several music videos, including Cake
's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket", Tyler Hilton
's "When It Comes", and Nickelback
's "Rockstar
". In 2007, Burck released an album of his own, signing to 4Sight Music Productions and recording the pop-rock album "Year of the Cowboy" produced by Lee Evans
and Gaetano Lattanzi at JAMBOX Recording Studios
in New York City. The album was featured on MTV News
.
He has also been featured in a number of documentaries. He is profiled in the documentary One Man Brand, produced by Mediastorm
, and is also included in the second part of the three-part Richard Dawkins
documentary, The Genius of Charles Darwin
, first shown on Channel 4
in the United Kingdom in August 2008. He also appeared briefly in the PBS
documentary Origins to give his opinion on the possibility of extraterrestrial life
.
in the 2009 election for Mayor of New York City
. At his announcement, Burck stated, "No one knows how to do more with less than yours truly, and that's the kind of thinking I plan on sharing with my fellow New Yorkers when you elect me."
On September 5, 2009, Burck withdrew from the race.
in the 2012 presidential election
. At his announcement, Burck stated that he has a "very conservative policy" and that he had an "unapologetic commitment to our borders, our language and our culture," borrowing a well-known catchphrase of radio host Michael Savage
. Burck changed his appearance by wearing a dress suit and had his hair cut.
On October 6, 2010, Burck officially declared his presidential candidacy at a press conference in Times Square. He stated that he was neither a Democrat
nor a Republican
, but rather "an American" and that he intends to lead the U.S. Tea Party movement
into the Oval Office
.
to his Naked Cowboy character and operates it as a franchise. Franchisees must undergo a screening process, and are required to pay Naked Cowboy Enterprises $500 per month or $5,000 per year, which authorizes a person to operate as a "Naked Cowboy" or "Naked Cowgirl". There are a number of franchisees, with the third and fourth recruits Burck's fellow Secaucus, New Jersey
resident Robert Coffman and Burck's girlfriend, Cindy Fox.
character playing a guitar while dressed in a white cowboy hat, cowboy boots and underpants on the electronic animation display that hangs outside the M&M'S store at Times Square. Burck, who owns registered trademarks to the Naked Cowboy name and likeness, filed a trademark infringement
lawsuit against Mars Incorporated on February 15, 2008.
Burck alleged that the ads infringe on his trademark by "using his likeness, persona, and image for commercial purposes without his written permission and by falsely suggesting that he endorses M&M's candy." The Cowboy’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, requests an injunction stopping Mars from using the Naked Cowboy's likeness to advertise M&M’s products, up to $100 million in punitive damages
, and attorney's fees. On June 23, 2008, the court issued a decision that dismissed a portion of the suit relying on New York law but rejected a motion by the defendants to dismiss the trademark claims. In a filing dated November 7, 2008, both Mars Incorporated and Burck agreed and stipulated that the action be dismissed with prejudice, with each party bearing his own costs and attorney's fees. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
letter for her unauthorized use of Burck's trademarked name. Burck dropped the lawsuit in March 2011 and provided authorization for her to use the Naked Cowgirl® Trademark so long as she adds her stage name "Sandy Kane" immediately before or after the valuable moniker. Burck disapproved of Kane's foul-mouthed, raunchy act, including "obscene gestures" directed at tourists. He has licensed other "Naked Cowgirls" to use the trademark.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
. He wears only cowboy boots, a hat, and briefs
Briefs
Briefs are a type of short, tight underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where the material extends down the legs.In the case of men's underwear, briefs, unlike boxer shorts, hold the wearer's genitals in a relatively fixed position, which make briefs a popular underwear choice for men who...
, with a guitar strategically placed to give the illusion of nudity.
On October 6, 2010, Burck formally announced that he is running for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the 2012 U.S. election
United States presidential election, 2012
The United States presidential election of 2012 is the next United States presidential election, to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election in which presidential electors, who will actually elect the President and the Vice President of the United...
as a candidate representing the U.S. Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
.
Background
Burck was born in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. He attended Our Lady of the Rosary elementary school in Greenhills, Ohio
Greenhills, Ohio
Greenhills is a village in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,103 at the 2000 census. It is a planned community that was established by the United States federal government during the Great Depression.-Geography:...
, and later earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
. He began busking
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
in December 1997 and first appeared on Venice Beach, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The public immediately gave him much more money after a friend suggested to him that he dress only in his underwear in order to generate higher earnings.
Though he is currently most famous as a fixture of New York City's Times Square where tour guides on passing buses point him out. "I wanted to be the most famous mother f***erever to live the face of the earth and that's what I am." Burck is also a regular in the streets of the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
during the New Orleans Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
season. "I had a little old lady in New Orleans Mardi Gras grab my balls and said, 'Just want to see what you got there, Buster!' Only lady that's ever done it. She was about 105. Awesome."He also makes appearances in his hometown of Cincinnati, at the Memorial Day weekend Taste of Cincinnati festival and the Riverfest
Cincinnati Bell/WEBN Riverfest
The Cincinnati Riverfest is an annual tradition that has taken place since 1977. Its origin comes from the Rock and Roll radio station WEBN , when it celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 1977. This has now evolved into an all day event is held every year on the day before Labor Day. The corporate...
Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
Festival. He has also made an appearance in Austin, Texas, during the South by Southwest Music Conference
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
, He has also made an appearance in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in June, 2008 on Broadway for the CMA Music Festival
CMA Music Festival
The CMA Music Festival is a four-day music festival centered around country music hosted each June by the Country Music Association in Nashville, Tennessee...
and he also made an appearance on January 25, 2009 he performed at a Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
game in Donnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, singing his theme song "I'm the Naked Cowboy" before 18,000 spectators.
In a 2005 online interview, Burck cited Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
and Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
as two of his leading inspirations. Additionally, on December 10, 2008 he was officially registered as a marriage officiant by the City of New York.
His first job was "Theft. 15-16 years old, you know, being a little punk."
His favorite Vacation spot: "considers the entire world his playground."
His goal is to, "dominate the commercial landscape of the entire world. Also to raise the physical, financial, and social, you know, basically the success standards for mankind."
Media appearances
As the Naked Cowboy's popularity grew, Burck began to make appearances in television, music videos, and other popular media. He auditioned for American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
during its first season
American Idol (Season 1)
The first season of American Idol premiered on June 11, 2002 and continued until September 4, 2002. It was won by Kelly Clarkson...
, but he was not admitted to the next round. He also tried out for Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
and Star Search
Star Search
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
, but with the same results. In 2000, he was also on the short-lived show Moral Court
Moral Court
Moral Court was a court show that was hosted by Larry Elder, and originally ran from 2000 to 2001.The program had the same concept as a legality court show however the cases were based on ethics and morality with the winner of the case leaving with a cash prize. The judge decides after hearing the...
, where conservative talk show host Larry Elder
Larry Elder
Laurence Allen "Larry" Elder is an American radio and television personality. His radio program The Larry Elder Show airs weekdays 9 AM to noon on talk radio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, California...
ruled that, in his opinion, Burck's Naked Cowboy persona was not immoral and not a danger to public safety. Burck replied, "Actually, I think I am an inspiration to public safety." On January 24, 2009, Burck also appeared on the Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight is an Irish chat show hosted by Ryan Tubridy that aired for five series on RTÉ One between 2004 and 2009. The programme featured guest interviews , audience participation and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
show on Ireland's RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
television network, performing his theme song accompanied by the Camembert Quartet.
"I've got like six books that I've written to date." His newest book is titled Determination- The Legend of the Naked Cowboy.
Burck has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns. As of 2006, he is part of USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
's "Characters Welcome" campaign, and he also had a cameo appearance in a Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
, as well as a Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
advertisement that aired only in the United Kingdom and Ireland. On August 28, 2008, Burke entered into an endorsement/licensing agreement with Divinely Naked LLC to endorse and create Naked Cowboy Nutritional Products. He has provided license to Blue Island Shellfish Farms to use the name and brand for Naked Cowboy Oysters, which are now the number one selling oysters in Manhattan.
Burck has also made appearances in several music videos, including Cake
Cake (band)
Cake is an American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and...
's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket", Tyler Hilton
Tyler Hilton
Tyler James Hilton is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Hilton began his professional career in music in 2000. Rolling Stone Magazine compared him to his contemporary, Howie Day, while others have compared Hilton to Elton John, both vocally and instrumentally...
's "When It Comes", and Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
's "Rockstar
Rockstar (Nickelback song)
"Rockstar" is the fifth U.S. single by the Canadian rock band Nickelback from their 2005 fifth studio album All the Right Reasons. It was only released in the U.S. and Canada, and has since been re-released worldwide...
". In 2007, Burck released an album of his own, signing to 4Sight Music Productions and recording the pop-rock album "Year of the Cowboy" produced by Lee Evans
Lee Evans (producer)
Lee Evans, also known as LeRoi Evans and LeRoy Evans, is an award winning music producer, recording engineer, songwriter, musician, entrepreneur, businessman and the CEO and co-owner of JAMBOX Entertainment. He currently resides in midtown Manhattan, New York.-Biography:Lee Evans was born in the...
and Gaetano Lattanzi at JAMBOX Recording Studios
JAMBOX Entertainment
JAMBOX Entertainment is a music company located in midtown Manhattan, New York City that functions primarily as a recording studio and music production company. Located in a three room recording facility on 352 Seventh Avenue, JAMBOX is co-owned by Lee Evans and Cathy Palmisano...
in New York City. The album was featured on MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
.
He has also been featured in a number of documentaries. He is profiled in the documentary One Man Brand, produced by Mediastorm
MediaStorm
MediaStorm is a New York City-based multimedia production and publishing company. The company produces online news stories using high-quality photography, audio, interactivity, and video, and consults on interactive web projects...
, and is also included in the second part of the three-part Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
documentary, The Genius of Charles Darwin
The Genius of Charles Darwin
The Genius of Charles Darwin is a three-part television documentary, written and presented by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.It was first shown in August 2008 on Channel 4...
, first shown on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in the United Kingdom in August 2008. He also appeared briefly in the PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
documentary Origins to give his opinion on the possibility of extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
.
New York City mayoral candidacy, 2009
On July 20, 2009, it was announced that Burck would challenge Mayor Michael BloombergMichael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
in the 2009 election for Mayor of New York City
New York City mayoral election, 2009
The 2009 election for Mayor of New York City took place on Tuesday, November 3. The incumbent Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, an independent who left the Republican Party in 2008, won reelection on the Republican and Independence Party/Jobs & Education lines with 50.7% of the vote over the retiring City...
. At his announcement, Burck stated, "No one knows how to do more with less than yours truly, and that's the kind of thinking I plan on sharing with my fellow New Yorkers when you elect me."
On September 5, 2009, Burck withdrew from the race.
Presidential candidacy, 2012
On September 29, 2010, Burck announced his intentions to challenge President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in the 2012 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2012
The United States presidential election of 2012 is the next United States presidential election, to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election in which presidential electors, who will actually elect the President and the Vice President of the United...
. At his announcement, Burck stated that he has a "very conservative policy" and that he had an "unapologetic commitment to our borders, our language and our culture," borrowing a well-known catchphrase of radio host Michael Savage
Michael Savage
Michael Savage may refer to:* Michael Savage , American radio host, author and conservative political commentator* Michael Joseph Savage , Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1935–1940...
. Burck changed his appearance by wearing a dress suit and had his hair cut.
On October 6, 2010, Burck officially declared his presidential candidacy at a press conference in Times Square. He stated that he was neither a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nor a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, but rather "an American" and that he intends to lead the U.S. Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
into the Oval Office
Oval Office
The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...
.
Trademark
Burck owns the trademarkTrademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
to his Naked Cowboy character and operates it as a franchise. Franchisees must undergo a screening process, and are required to pay Naked Cowboy Enterprises $500 per month or $5,000 per year, which authorizes a person to operate as a "Naked Cowboy" or "Naked Cowgirl". There are a number of franchisees, with the third and fourth recruits Burck's fellow Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 16,264. Located within the New Jersey Meadowlands, it is the most suburban of the county's municipalities, though large parts of the town are dedicated to light manufacturing, retail, and...
resident Robert Coffman and Burck's girlfriend, Cindy Fox.
Lawsuit against Mars Inc
Mars Incorporated created a short animation of the Blue M&M'sM&M's
M&M's are dragée-like "colorful button-shaped candies" produced by Mars, Incorporated...
character playing a guitar while dressed in a white cowboy hat, cowboy boots and underpants on the electronic animation display that hangs outside the M&M'S store at Times Square. Burck, who owns registered trademarks to the Naked Cowboy name and likeness, filed a trademark infringement
Trademark infringement
Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attaching to a trademark without the authorization of the trademark owner or any licensees...
lawsuit against Mars Incorporated on February 15, 2008.
Burck alleged that the ads infringe on his trademark by "using his likeness, persona, and image for commercial purposes without his written permission and by falsely suggesting that he endorses M&M's candy." The Cowboy’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, requests an injunction stopping Mars from using the Naked Cowboy's likeness to advertise M&M’s products, up to $100 million in punitive damages
Punitive damages
Punitive damages or exemplary damages are damages intended to reform or deter the defendant and others from engaging in conduct similar to that which formed the basis of the lawsuit...
, and attorney's fees. On June 23, 2008, the court issued a decision that dismissed a portion of the suit relying on New York law but rejected a motion by the defendants to dismiss the trademark claims. In a filing dated November 7, 2008, both Mars Incorporated and Burck agreed and stipulated that the action be dismissed with prejudice, with each party bearing his own costs and attorney's fees. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
CBS
Burck filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against CBS in February 2011, saying the network's use of a 'Naked Cowboy'-alike figure in an ad for a television show demeaned his image with its "drunk and sexually charged" portrayal.Naked Cowgirl
Former stripper Sandy Kane performed as the "Naked Cowgirl", wearing a bikini and cowboy hat, and was sent a cease and desistCease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
letter for her unauthorized use of Burck's trademarked name. Burck dropped the lawsuit in March 2011 and provided authorization for her to use the Naked Cowgirl® Trademark so long as she adds her stage name "Sandy Kane" immediately before or after the valuable moniker. Burck disapproved of Kane's foul-mouthed, raunchy act, including "obscene gestures" directed at tourists. He has licensed other "Naked Cowgirls" to use the trademark.
See also
- Leslie CochranLeslie CochranLeslie Cochran is an American peace activist, cross-dresser, street person and local celebrity in Austin, Texas. He is a critic of police treatment of the homeless.-Early life:...
- Andrew MartinezAndrew MartinezLuis Andrew Martinez commonly known as Andrew Martinez, was an activist who achieved fame at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was known as the Naked Guy.-Early fame:...
- Jim SpaggJim SpaggJim Spagg was a U.S. artist and host of a controversial Public-access television cable TV program in Portland, Oregon, United States from 1991 to 2003....
- David ZancaiDavid ZancaiDavid Zancai is a street entertainer from Toronto, Ontario, in Canada. Zancai is known for his character Zanta: a modified Santa Claus who travels the streets of downtown Toronto doing pushups and shouting "yes yes yes" and "Merry Christmess". His costume consists of nothing but shorts, boots, and...
External links
- The Naked Cowboy official website
- The Naked Cowboy for President 2012 official website
- The Naked Cowboy rock music page
- Biofile interview transcript