Van Halen brothers sue drummer’s ex over name

Eddie Van Halen and his bandmate brother Alex are suing the drummer’s ex-wife for using her famous married name in a new business venture. The rockers claim Kelly Van Halen’s construction and interior design company dilutes the band’s brand and creates unfair competition.
Kelly and Alex divorced in 1996 after 12 years of marriage but she kept her name from the union, and now her ex-husband and former brother-in-law are taking her to court in California over her moniker.
In the brothers’ lawsuit, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Kelly is said to have filed two trademark applications under her name for products like chairs, children’s blankets and interior design services. They claim her name is “confusingly similar to Plaintiff’s VAN HALEN marks in sound, appearance and commercial impression.”