Parents of singer sued for using name created by entertainment company

An entertainment company is suing over claims a client has terminated their contract and stolen a singing persona the company created.

Wayne Anderson and Roxell Richards, individually and doing business as Visionworld Entertainment, filed a lawsuit May 2 in the Houston County District Court against Harvey and Shannon Baker, individually and as representatives of K.B., a minor, citing copyright infringement.

According to the complaint, the Bakers signed a contract with Anderson as manager and Visionworld as record label for their daughter's singing career on May 25, 2013. The complaint says the plaintiffs created the persona Sharve for K.B. and spent more than $100,000 in building a following, procuring sponsors and creating concerts, but the Bakers have failed to pay more than $20,000.

Anderson says the Bakers also changed all passwords to accounts and social media associated with the Sharve word mark, despite ownership belonging to the plaintiffs, and sought legal advice in terminating the contract in March. The complaint says the defendants continue to use the Sharve word mark.

The defendants are accused of trademark cancellation, opposition, liability for false or fraudulent registration, dilution by tarnishment, common law trademark infringement, unfair competition and trade dress infringement, false designation of origin, breach of contract, business disparagement, quantum merit, unjust enrichment, tortious interference with contractual relations, copyright infringement, unfair trade practices and unfair competition, conversion and cyberpiracy.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages, attorney's fees and judgement to stop the defendants from using the Sharve name.

They are being represented in the case by attorney Roxell Richards.

Houston County District Court Case No. 14-cv-01211.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Houston County District Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.