Fox Television was encouraged Tuesday to participate in mediation to resolve a dispute with a record label that is demanding millions of dollars from the network for use of the title “Empire.”
Twentieth Century Fox Television filed a trademark lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles federal court seeking a judge’s declaration that it may continue using “Empire” as the title for its popular series starring Oscar nominee Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.
According to the suit, the San Francisco-based record label Empire Distribution Inc. has sent demand letters to Fox, asking for as much as $8 million based on allegations that the title of the series creates confusion with its own rap and R&B music releases.
In Tuesday’s filing, the court said that parties in civil cases must participate in an alternative dispute resolution process prior to going to trial, “unless exempted by the trial judge.”
