Naked Cowboy Sues Naked Cowgirl

She stole his schtick, plus she's sullying 'wholesome' icon

By Caroline Miller, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2010 11:25 AM CDT

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Naked Cowboy Sues Naked Cowgirl — FILE - In this July 22, 2009 file photo, Robert Burck, also known as The Naked Cowboy, speaks to reporters during a news conference in New York's Times Square. One of Times Square's best-known entertainers is heading to court to protect his trademark. The Naked Cowboy is suing the Naked Cowgirl. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

It may be nothing but tightie-whities (accessorized with a cowboy hat and a guitar), but Robert Burck, aka the Naked Cowboy, says his signature attire, while performing more or less daily for tourists in Times Square, constitutes his trademark, and he's suing his female counterpart, the Naked Cowgirl, for violating said trademark, registered, thank you very much, in 2000. Burck's lawyer filed a lawsuit yesterday claiming that she's "devaluing a real American brand and icon."

To add insult to competition, Sandy Kane—the Daily News says her real name is Sandra Brodsky—has not only refused for 2 years to pay him a franchise fee, but she's tarnishing the name by being tacky and profane—"flipping the bird" while being photographed with fans, the lawsuit says. The legal shootout will play out in federal court. Kane, a former stripper, is a fixture on the comedy scene, the AP adds.
(More Naked Cowboy stories.)

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