Joey Ramone's brother, Mickey Leigh (Mitchel Hyman), has filed a lawsuit against Johnny Ramone's widow, Linda Cummings-Ramone, over alleged misuse of the band's trademarks and intellectual property.

The dispute centers on the ownership and control of The Ramones' legacy. None of the original band members were actually related, having adopted the "Ramone" surname upon joining the band. Following the deaths of all original members, the band's intellectual property is now split between these two heirs.

Key points of the lawsuit:

• Leigh accuses Cummings-Ramone of exploiting the band's legacy by presenting herself as "the widow of Johnny Ramone"
• The lawsuit claims she has exceeded previously established legal limits on using the Ramone name
• Leigh argues that "Linda Ramone" only began using this name after her husband John Cummings's death
• The filing describes her as a "former groupie" attempting to position herself as the band's spokesperson and "keeper of the legacy"

This legal action follows a previous dispute from January when Cummings-Ramone filed her own lawsuit regarding Netflix's planned biopic based on Mickey Leigh's memoir, "I Slept With Joey Ramone," claiming it would present a "one-sided recitation" of the band's history.

The case highlights the ongoing tension between the two parties over control of The Ramones' intellectual property and public image, with both sides seeking to protect their perceived rights to the band's legacy.

Photo Credit: The Ramones by Danny Fields, 1977

Related Articles

Previous Articles