‘Brooklyn Senior Idol’ Resolves Dispute Over Use Of ‘Idol’ Brand

The production company behind reality TV show “American Idol” has dropped the request that its name be kept out of a Brooklyn singing competition for seniors, State Senator Marty Golden announced Tuesday.

Golden has co-hosted the singing contest, “Brooklyn Senior Idol,” for the last seven years. His office signed a legal contract with lawyers from FremantleMedia North America, the production company behind “American Idol,” allowing the borough’s talent show for the elderly to keep its name.

“This show has become a very special annual community event, and now the show and the name will be a tradition that is together kept alive,” Golden said in a press release. “I thank American Idol for reaching out to my office in light of the attention we brought to the issue of the name of our highly regarded Brooklyn Senior Idol talent show.”

In June, Golden’s office received a letter from the production company’s lawyers asking the idol brand be kept out of the borough’s singing competition. “Brooklyn Senior Idol” not only co-opted the TV show’s name, but the banner also mimicked the “American Idol” logo.

The letter read in part: “While our client appreciates your enthusiasm for the American Idol and Idol brands, as a federal trademark owner, FremantleMedia cannot allow the unauthorized use of the Brooklyn Senior Idol mark in connection with talent competition services. Cease using the Brooklyn Senior Idol mark in connection with your talent competitions and remove…any advertisements, promotions, signs, or other material containing the Brooklyn Senior Idol mark.”

The request put only the name, and not the future of show, in jeopardy. Golden responded by inviting Brooklynites to submit suggestions for how to rename the show.

“Although we have received many suggestions for new show titles, we have decided that we will continue to call our talent show Brooklyn Senior Idol,” Golden said.

Auditions for “Brooklyn Senior Idol” begin in early September. The finals for the competition take place on October 2 at Xaverian High School (7100 Shore Road). Tickets are available for purchase at the door and cost $10.

For more information, contact Senator Golden’s office at golden@nysenate.gov or (718) 238-6044.