A federal judge Wednesday granted the Grateful Dead rock group the authority to seize counterfeit items bearing the band's name or its members' like-nesses.
Judge Zita Weinshienk granted a temporary restraining order to Grateful Dead Productions Inc. and the Grateful Dead Merchandising Inc. to prohibit the sale of bootleg merchandise."In view of the importance of trademark law in this country, the plaintiffs would suffer irreparable injury if this order were not granted," she said.
The lawsuit, naming "Does 1-500" as defendants, alleges such sales deprive the Grateful Dead of income and infringe their trademark. The judge's order requires that the seizure be carried out under the supervision of attorneys.
The band is scheduled to appear in Denver next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.