Last August, Black Flag co-founder Greg Ginn filed a lawsuit against former bandmates Keith Morris, Dez Cadena, Chuck Dukowski, and Bill Stevenson, who had reunited under the FLAG banner. Ginn claimed he and his label, SST Records, exclusively owned the rights to the Black Flag name, logo, and recordings. Almost one year and failed injunction later, the case has finally been settled: Ginn will legally retain those aforementioned rights and thus, FLAG can no longer use the Black Flag logo.
A press release (via Pitchfork) notes Ginn and SST will hold onto “ownership of all of the recordings of Black Flag” and “all rights in the Black Flag name and logo.”
The settlement also addresses Ginn’s previously filed injunction against Morris and Henry Rollins, who were accused of trademark infringement by “lying to the Trademark Office on registrations” and “using his own label’s record covers to feign as though they’ve been continuing to use Black Flag since 1979”. According to the press statement, both Morris and Rollins “have conveyed any rights they had in that trademark to Greg Ginn and SST Records.”
New Black Flag frontman Mike Vallely released a statement on the case’s resolution, saying, “As was inevitable, this little bump in the road is out of the way and Black Flag will continue as planned without the confusion.”
Black Flag released What the... in November, but are currently working on a new album and will be touring this summer. Consult their tour dates below, followed by a video of the band performing “Good For You” last June.
Black Flag 2014 Tour Dates:
05/16 – El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
05/17 – Scottsdale, AZ @ Pubrock
05/18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Cafe
05/19 – Bakersfield, CA @ On The Rocks
05/20 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
05/21 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
05/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall
05/23 – Oakland, CA @ New Parrish
05/24 – Reno, NV @ Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor
05/27 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
05/28 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
05/29 – Bend, OR @ Volcanic Theater Pub
05/30 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
05/31 – Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
06/11 – Dallas, TX @ Elm Street Festival
06/13 – Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
06/14 – Omaha, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
06/15 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
06/16 – Madison, WI @ Majestic
06/17 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies
06/18 – Lansing, MI @ The Avenue
06/19 – Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo
06/20 – Montebello, QC @ Amnesia Rockfest
06/21 – Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts
06/22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Europa
06/23 – Long Branch, NJ @ Brighton Bar
06/24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
06/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar
06/26 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House
06/27 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
06/28 – Hot Springs, AR @ Maxine’s
