LV hotel-casino sues New York’s Studio 54

Monday, Nov. 13, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

MGM Grand Hotel Inc., which owns the Studio 54 nightclub within the Las Vegas hotel-casino and claims to have superior rights to the Studio 54 trademark, sued to stop a New York nightclub from advertising under the trademark.

In a U.S. District Court lawsuit, MGM Grand sued Studio 54 Promotions LLC and its principals, Joshua Hadar and Noel Ashman; its landlord, Landpen Co. L.P. and Aberson, Narotzky & White Inc., which allegedly makes and sells merchandise bearing the Studio 54 trademark for Studio 54 Promotions.

MGM Grand also disputes whether Landpen, which bought the building at 254 West 54th Street -- where the original Studio 54 nightclub was located in the 1970s -- has rights to the Studio 54 trademark.

The suit said Studio 54 Promotions rented the property for its nightclub, which opened on Sep. 29, and a gift shop selling items bearing the Studio 54 mark. Studio 54 Promotions also subleases a portion of the building to Roundabout Theater Co., which allegedly advertises its play as "The Cabaret at Studio 54."

MGM Grand said Studio 54 Promotions registered two Internet domain names, studio54nyc.com and 54nyc.com, which lead to a website that allegedly invites customers to "come and enjoy the new and beautifully restored Studio 54 now available for all catered functions, special events, screenings and benefits."

The defendants could not be reached for comment on the allegations.